main1
/meɪn
/adjective [attributive]
Chief in size or importance: a main road the main problem is one of resources...
- With the forthcoming London mayoral elections in June, the three main candidates have thrown their hats into the ring.
- The only way out is the one and only main gate.
- I wandered about, and sat for a while in the main choir listening to the organ.
Synonyms
principal, chief, head, leading, foremost, most important, major, ruling, dominant, central, focal, key, prime, master, premier, primary, first, high, grand, fundamental, supreme, predominant, (most) prominent, pre-eminent, paramount, overriding, cardinal, crucial, vital, critical, capital, pivotal, salient, elemental, essential, staple, intrinsic, urgent
noun
1A principal pipe carrying water or gas to buildings, or taking sewage from them: [with modifier]: a faulty gas main...
- It was also delivering water to the camp, where many mains and sewage pipes are broken.
- Numerous leaks have developed from broken water pipes and mains.
- There were reports of broken water and gas mains around northern Kyushu, and bullet trains and other railways and subways suspended operations, but later resumed running.
1.1A principal cable carrying electricity.Faulks said the alarm was not properly connected to electrical mains and would have had to rely on a back-up battery even if switched on.
1.2 (the mains) British The source of public water, gas, or electricity supply through pipes or cables: the camcorder can be run directly off the mains [as modifier]: switch off the mains supply...
- Turn off gas, electricity and water supplies at the mains.
- The owner will have to install private drainage, link up to the mains water and electricity and rebuild the property under the watchful eye of the park planners.
- A spokesman for Essex and Suffolk Water, who sent technicians on Friday, said that a leak had been found in the mains water supply.
2 (the main) archaic or literary The open ocean.
3 Nautical short for mainsail or mainmast.I told him not to touch the main, and to let go the port jib sheet and haul it in starboard side.
Phrases
by main force
in the main
Origin
Middle English: from Old English mægen 'physical force', reinforced by Old Norse meginn, megn 'strong, powerful', both from a Germanic base meaning 'have power'.
Rhymes
main2
/meɪn/noun
1(In the game of hazard) a number (5, 6, 7, 8, or 9) called by a player before dice are thrown.
2 historical A match between fighting cocks.At a big cockfight main with Massa Lea early during the 1824 season, Uncle Mingo heard from an old trainer he had known for years that a hackfight was due to be held that coming Saturday afternoon behind the large barn of a local plantation.
Origin
Late 16th century: probably from the phrase main chance.
Main3
/mʌɪn/A river of SW Germany which rises in northern Bavaria and flows 500 km (310 miles) westwards, through Frankfurt, to meet the Rhine at Mainz.