'Main' definitions:
Definition of 'main'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Most important element; "the chief aim of living"; "the main doors were of solid glass"; "the principal rivers of America"; "the principal example"; "policemen were primary targets"; "the master bedroom"; "a master switch" [syn: chief(a), main(a), primary(a), principal(a), master(a)]
adjective
(of a clause) capable of standing syntactically alone as a complete sentence; "the main (or independent) clause in a complex sentence has at least a subject and a verb" [syn: independent, main(a)] [ant: dependent, subordinate]
adjective
Of force; of the greatest possible intensity; "by main strength"
noun
Any very large body of (salt) water [syn: main, briny]
noun
A principal pipe in a system that distributes water or gas or electricity or that collects sewage
Definition of 'Main'
From: GCIDE
- 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 most might and main. --R. of Gl. [1913 Webster]
- He 'gan advance, With huge force, and with importable main. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
- 2. The chief or principal part; the main or most important thing. [Obs., except in special uses.] [1913 Webster]
- Resolved to rest upon the title of Lancaster as the main, and to use the other two . . . but as supporters. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Specifically: (a) The great sea, as distinguished from an arm, bay, etc.; the high sea; the ocean. "Struggling in the main." --Dryden. (b) The continent, as distinguished from an island; the mainland. "Invaded the main of Spain." --Bacon. (c) principal duct or pipe, as distinguished from lesser ones; esp. (Engin.), a principal pipe leading to or from a reservoir; as, a fire main. [1913 Webster]
- Forcing main, the delivery pipe of a pump.
- For the main, or In the main, for the most part; in the greatest part.
- With might and main, or With all one's might and main, with all one's strength; with violent effort. [1913 Webster]
- With might and main they chased the murderous fox. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Main'
From: GCIDE
- Main \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 main abyss." --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Unqualified; absolute; entire; sheer. [Obs.] "It's a man untruth." --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]
- 4. Principal; chief; first in size, rank, importance, etc.; as, the main reason to go; the main proponent. [1913 Webster +PJC]
- Our main interest is to be happy as we can. --Tillotson. [1913 Webster]
- 5. Important; necessary. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
- That which thou aright Believest so main to our success, I bring. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- By main force, by mere force or sheer force; by violent effort; as, to subdue insurrection by main force. [1913 Webster]
- That Maine which by main force Warwick did win. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- By main strength, by sheer strength; as, to lift a heavy weight by main strength.
- Main beam (Steam Engine), working beam.
- Main boom (Naut.), the boom which extends the foot of the mainsail in a fore and aft vessel.
- Main brace. (a) (Mech.) The brace which resists the chief strain. Cf. Counter brace. (b) (Naut.) The brace attached to the main yard.
- Main center (Steam Engine), a shaft upon which a working beam or side lever swings.
- Main chance. See under Chance.
- Main couple (Arch.), the principal truss in a roof.
- Main deck (Naut.), the deck next below the spar deck; the principal deck.
- Main keel (Naut.), the principal or true keel of a vessel, as distinguished from the false keel. [1913 Webster]
- Syn: Principal; chief; leading; cardinal; capital. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Main'
From: GCIDE
- Main \Main\, adv. [See Main, a.] Very; extremely; as, main heavy. "I'm main dry." --Foote. [Obs. or Low] [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'main'
From: GCIDE
- main \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 limits, as in the game of hazard. [1913 Webster]
- 4. A match at cockfighting. "My lord would ride twenty miles . . . to see a main fought." --Thackeray. [1913 Webster]
- 5. A main-hamper. [Obs.] --Ainsworth. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'main'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- absolute,
- Africa,
- all-absorbing,
- Antarctica,
- arch,
- Asia,
- Australia,
- awful,
- banner,
- basic,
- big,
- big drink,
- biggest,
- blue,
- blue water,
- brine,
- briny,
- brute,
- capital,
- cardinal,
- central,
- champion,
- channel,
- chief,
- cock,
- comprehensive,
- conduit,
- consequential,
- considerable,
- continent,
- controlling,
- crazy,
- critical,
- crowning,
- crucial,
- damned,
- deep,
- dominant,
- dreadful,
- drink,
- duct,
- effort,
- electric cable,
- energy,
- essential,
- Eurasia,
- Eurasian landmass,
- Europe,
- exceedingly,
- exhaustive,
- extremely,
- fire main,
- first,
- focal,
- foremost,
- front,
- full,
- fundamental,
- gas main,
- grand,
- grave,
- great,
- greatest,
- head,
- headmost,
- heavy,
- hegemonic,
- high sea,
- high seas,
- highest,
- hydrosphere,
- in the main,
- intense,
- irresistible,
- landmass,
- largest,
- larruping,
- leading,
- line,
- magisterial,
- maiden,
- main sea,
- mainland,
- mainly,
- mains,
- major,
- master,
- maximum,
- mere,
- might,
- mighty,
- monstrous,
- necessary,
- North America,
- ocean,
- ocean depths,
- ocean main,
- ocean sea,
- out-and-out,
- outstanding,
- overriding,
- overruling,
- paramount,
- particular,
- peninsula,
- pipe,
- pipeline,
- plain,
- plenary,
- power,
- power supply,
- powerful,
- predominant,
- predominating,
- preeminent,
- premier,
- preponderant,
- prevailing,
- primal,
- primary,
- prime,
- principal,
- pure,
- ranking,
- ruling,
- salt sea,
- salt water,
- sea,
- serious,
- sheer,
- South America,
- sovereign,
- star,
- stellar,
- strength,
- strong,
- strongest,
- subcontinent,
- supereminent,
- supreme,
- thalassa,
- the bounding main,
- the brine,
- the briny,
- the briny deep,
- the deep,
- the deep sea,
- the seven seas,
- the vasty deep,
- tide,
- topflight,
- topmost,
- total,
- uppermost,
- utter,
- vigor,
- vital,
- water main
Words containing 'Main'
- For the main,
- In the main,
- Maine,
- Mainly,
- mains,
- By main force,
- By main strength,
- Ferranti mains,
- Fire main,
- Forcing main,
- Hydraulic main,
- Main beam,
- Main boom,
- Main brace,
- Main center,
- Main chance,
- Main couple,
- Main deck,
- Main keel,
- Main yard,
- Maine law,
- Rising main,
- Spanish main,
- The main chance,
- With might and main,
- all-mains,
- capital of maine,
- electric main,
- frankfurt on the main,
- gas main,
- main clause,
- main course,
- main diagonal,
- main drag,
- main file,
- main line,
- main memory,
- main office,
- main point,
- main road,
- main rotor,
- main sequence,
- main street,
- main transom,
- maine lobster,
- might and main,
- riser main,
- sewer main,
- water main,
- Coup de main,
- Main-gauche,
- Main-hamper,
- To splice the main brace,
- With all one's might and main,
- main entry word,
- main-topmast,
- main-topsail