main
Forms
- Plural
- mains
- present (v1)
- main
- past (v2)
- mained
- past participle (v3)
- mained
- present participle
- maining
- 3rd person singular
- mains
Definitions
1.Of chief or leading importance; prime, principal.
- The main office is actually one of the smaller rooms.
2.Chief, most important, or principal in extent, size, or strength; consisting of the largest part.
- Our main problem remains unsolved.
3.Belonging to or connected with the principal mast in a vessel.
- Our main problem remains unsolved.
1.Ellipsis of mainline (“to inject (a drug) directly into a vein”).(slang)
2.To mainly play a specific character or side, or with specific equipment, during a game.
- He mains the same character as me in that game.
- What race do you main and what is your favourite race to beat?
- For new players, I recommend maining the dagger and using the axe as a backup weapon.
1.That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the bulk, the greater part, gross.
- His main got banned after his last post.
- My WoW main has reached level cap and I’m on my way getting my first alt there as well.
2.A large cable or pipe providing utility service to an area or a building, such as a water main or electric main.
- There's a gas leak in the main outside the building.
3.Ellipsis of main course (“the principal dish of a meal”).(informal)
- I had scampi and chips for my main and a slice of cheesecake for dessert.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #928
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Uncommon
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
From Middle English mayn, main, maine, mæin, meyn, from main (noun) (see further at etymology 2); compare Old English mæġen (“strong, main, principal”) (used in combination) and Old Norse megn, megenn (“strong, main”).