mains
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of mains
1425–75; late Middle English, plural of main, aphetic variant of Middle English demain, demeine demesne
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As we get into our larger parachutes, like the drogues and the mains, we have a lighter-weight nylon ... not unlike what you might build a tent out of, or an old-school windbreaker.
From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026
Group similar things together — salads near salads, mains near mains, desserts at the end.
From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026
Approximately 30% of homes in Cumbria and Northumberland do not have mains gas and rely on heating fuels such as oil or LPG.
From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026
The inverter is the device that automatically draws supplies from the battery when the mains switch off.
From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026
I took my courage à deux mains and waited.
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
