main

main
1 adjective (only before noun)
1 bigger or more important than all other things, ideas, influences etc of the same kind: I noted down the main points of her speech. | The main bedroom is at the back of the house. | Lack of confidence was the main reason behind the team's defeat. | Our main concern is that the children are safe. | The main female character in the movie.
2 the main thing spoken used to say what is the most important thing in a situation: As long as you're not hurt, that's the main thing. | The main thing is not to panic.
—see also: with an eye to the main chance eye 1 (36), the main drag drag 2 (7) 2 noun
1 (C) a large pipe or wire carrying the public supply of water, electricity or gas: a burst water main in the street
2 the mains BrE
a) the place on a wall you can connect something to a supply of electricity: You can run it off batteries or plug it into the mains. | at the mains: Make sure that the television is turned off at the mains.
b) mains gas/electricity/water The public supply of gas etc through large pipes or wires: The heater will run off mains gas or bottled gas.
3 in the main mostly: Her fellow students were in the main from wealthy backgrounds.
—see also: with might and main might 2 (1)

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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  • Main — (m[=a]n), a. [From {Main} strength, possibly influenced by OF. maine, magne, great, L. magnus. Cf. {Magnate}.] 1. Very or extremely strong. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] That current with main fury ran. Daniel. [1913 Webster] 2. Vast; huge. [Obs.] The… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Main — Main, n. [AS. m[ae]gen strength, power, force; akin to OHG. magan, Icel. megin, and to E. may, v. [root]103. See {May}, v.] 1. Strength; force; might; violent effort. [Obs., except in certain phrases.] [1913 Webster] There were in this battle of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • main — (m[=a]n), n. [F. main hand, L. manus. See {Manual}.] 1. A hand or match at dice. Prior. Thackeray. [1913 Webster] 2. A stake played for at dice. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. The largest throw in a match at dice; a throw at dice within given… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Main — Main, adv. [See {Main}, a.] Very; extremely; as, main heavy. I m main dry. Foote. [Obs. or Low] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • MAIN — s. f. Partie du corps humain, qui est à l extrémité du bras, qui s étend depuis le poignet jusqu au bout des doigts, et que sa conformation rend propre à toute sorte d actions et d ouvrages. La main droite. La main gauche. Le creux, le dedans, la …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 7eme edition (1835)

  • MAIN — n. f. Partie du corps humain qui est à l’extrémité du bras, qui s’étend depuis le poignet jusqu’au bout des doigts, qui sert à la préhension, qui est le principal organe du toucher et que sa conformation rend propre à toute sorte d’actions et… …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 8eme edition (1935)

  • Main — For the Wikipedia website front page, see Main Page. For the Wikipedia main namespace, see Help:Namespace. Main may refer to: Main (river), a major river and tributary of the Rhine in Germany Main River (Chukotka), a river in Far Eastern Siberia… …   Wikipedia

  • main — I. noun Etymology: in sense 1, from Middle English, from Old English mǣgen; akin to Old High German magan strength, Old English magan to be able; in other senses, from 2main or by shortening more at may Date: before 12th century 1. physical… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • main — See: IN THE MAIN, WITH MIGHT AND MAIN …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • main — See: IN THE MAIN, WITH MIGHT AND MAIN …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Main Street — in Salinas, California For other uses, see Main Street (disambiguation). Main Street is the metonym for a generic street name (and often the official name) of the primary retail street of a village, tow …   Wikipedia

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