a main road, the principal highway; also figurative; cf. high road, n.

literal. A chief or main road; a highway. Also in extended use: = highway, n. 4.

(a) a principal highway or thoroughfare, esp. a specially surfaced route intended for vehicles; (b) Mining the main or principal passage in a mine…

In extended use. The usual or most direct route, by land or water, followed when travelling through a place, between particular places, or for a…

a route along which much traffic moves or is conveyed; (in later use chiefly) spec. a main or arterial road.

a main road; spec. in Grand (also Great) Trunk Road, the great highway between Calcutta (Kolkata) and Amritsar constructed during the British Raj.

= main road n. (a).

a main road serving as part of a system that ramifies in the manner of an artery.

= main road n. (a) at main, adj.2 compounds 2 (in quot. 1888 referring to a railroad company).

A highway, esp. in the United States. Frequently with following numeral. Cf. route nationale, n.

Originally U.S. = arterial road n. at compounds.

a principal road, esp. one classified as an A road or a B road; phrase major road ahead (used on British road signs until 1967).

a major road linking other important routes or points.