adj. & n.
—adj.
1 chief in size, importance, extent, etc.; principal (the main part; the main point).
2 exerted to the full (by main force).
—n.
1 a principal channel, duct, etc., for water, sewage, etc. (water main).
2 (usu. in pl.; prec. by the) a the central distribution network for electricity, gas, water, etc. b a domestic electricity supply as distinct from batteries.
3 archaic or poet. a the ocean or oceans (the Spanish Main). b the mainland.
Phrases and idioms:
in the main for the most part. main brace Naut. the brace attached to the main yard. the main chance one's own interests. main course
1 the chief course of a meal.
2 Naut. the mainsail.
main deck Naut.
1 the deck below the spar-deck in a man-of-war.
2 the upper deck between the poop and the forecastle in a merchantman.
main line
1 a chief railway line.
2 sl. a principal vein, esp. as a site for a drug injection (cf. MAINLINE).
3 US a chief road or street. main stem US colloq. = main street. main street the principal street of a town. Main Street US materialistic philosophy (after Sinclair Lewis's novel, 1920). main yard Naut. the yard on which the mainsail is extended. with might and main with all one's force.
Etymology: ME, partly f. ON megenn, megn (adj.), partly f. OE maeliggen- f. Gmc: (n.) orig. = physical force
2.
n.
1 (in the game of hazard) a number (5, 6, 7, 8, or 9) called by a player before dice are thrown.
2 a match between fighting-cocks.
Etymology: 16th c.: prob. orig. main chance: see MAIN(1)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.