main

¹

[ meyn ]

adjective

1. chief in size, extent, or importance; principal; leading:

   the company's main office;

   the main features of a plan.

   Synonyms: capital, primary, paramount, prime, cardinal

   Antonyms: least, secondary

2. sheer; utmost, as strength or force:

   to lift a stone by main force.

   Synonyms: unqualified, pure

3. of or relating to a broad expanse:

   main sea.

4. Grammar. syntactically independent; capable of use in isolation. Compare dependent ( def 4 ), independent ( def 14 ), main clause.
5. Nautical.
   1. of or relating to a mainmast.
   2. noting or pertaining to a sail, yard, boom, etc., or to any rigging belonging to a mainmast.
   3. noting any stay running aft and upward to the head of a mainmast:

      main topmast stay.

6. Obsolete.
   1. having or exerting great strength or force; mighty.
   2. having momentous or important results; significant.

noun

1. a principal pipe or duct in a system used to distribute water, gas, etc.

   Synonyms: conduit

2. physical strength, power, or force:

   to struggle with might and main.

   Synonyms: might

   Antonyms: weakness

3. the chief or principal part or point:

   The main of their investments was lost during the war.

4. Literary. the open ocean; high sea:

   the bounding main.

5. the mainland.
6. Usually mains. a main course in a meal:

   The restaurant offers four mains: one chicken, two beef, and one fish.

adverb

1. South Midland U.S. (chiefly Appalachian). very; exceedingly:

   The dogs treed a main big coon.

verb (used with or without object)

1. Slang. mainline none.

main

²

[ meyn ]

noun

1. a cockfighting match.

Main

³

[ meyn; German mahyn ]

noun

1. a river in central and W Germany, flowing W from the Bohemian Forest in N Bavaria into the Rhine at Mainz. 305 miles (490 km) long.

Main

¹

/ meɪn; main /

noun

1. a river in central and W Germany, flowing west through Würzburg and Frankfurt to the Rhine. Length: about 515 km (320 miles)

main

²

/ meɪn /

noun

1. a throw of the dice in dice games
2. a cockfighting contest
3. a match in archery, boxing, etc

main

³

/ meɪn /

adjective

1. chief or principal in rank, importance, size, etc
2. sheer or utmost (esp in the phrase by main force )
3. nautical of, relating to, or denoting any gear, such as a stay or sail, belonging to the mainmast
4. obsolete.
   significant or important

noun

1. a principal pipe, conduit, duct, or line in a system used to distribute water, electricity, etc
2. plural
   1. the main distribution network for water, gas, or electricity
   2. ( as modifier )

      mains voltage

3. the chief or most important part or consideration
4. great strength or force (now chiefly in the phrase ( with ) might and main )
5. literary.
   the open ocean
6. archaic.
   short for Spanish Main
7. archaic.
   short for mainland
8. in the main or for the main
   on the whole; for the most part

Word History and Origins

Origin of main¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun main(e), mayn(e) “strength, power,” Old English mægen, megen, cognate with Old Norse magn, megin, megn “strength”; Middle English adjective main(e), partly from Old Norse megin-, megn “strong,” partly from Old English noun mægen used in compounds, as in mægen-weorc “mighty work”

Origin of main²

First recorded in 1560–70; origin uncertain; perhaps special use of main ¹; compare main chance

Word History and Origins

Origin of main¹

C16: of unknown origin

Origin of main²

C13: from Old English mægen strength

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in the main, for the most part; chiefly:

   In the main, the novel was dull reading.

More idioms and phrases containing main

• eye to the main chance
• in the main
• might and main

Example Sentences

One of campaigners' main concerns in regards to landmines is the danger these weapons present to civilians, killing indiscriminately as they are buried underground or scattered on the surface.

From BBC

This was in marked contrast to the main clock in the brain, plus feelings of sleepiness and alertness, which had not recovered within 5 days of the 5-hour time delay.

From Science Daily

The main causes are the loss of habitat and food in landscapes shaped by humans as well as a high number of direct or indirect incidents of poisoning.

From Science Daily

“I would say confidence is the main thing,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Eastern scientists such as Alexander Sulakvelidze, one of Zeldovich’s main modern characters, who left Georgia after the fall of the Soviet Union, brought the message of phage’s potential.

From Salon