main
9 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of MAIN
always used before a noun
:
most important
:
chief,
principal
-
the main idea/point
-
the main goal/purpose
-
Speed is the main advantage of this approach.
-
The company's main office is located in New York.
-
the novel's main character
-
driving down the main road/highway
-
the main gate/entrance
-
This dish can be served as a main course or appetizer.
-
And now for the main event of the evening!
— mainly
adverb-
The reviews have been mainly [=mostly] positive.
-
a plant found mainly [=chiefly] in coastal regions
-
I don't like the plan, mainly because I think it's too expensive.
-
The problems have been mainly minor ones. [=most of the problems have been minor ones]
-
They depend mainly on/upon fish for food.
2
main
/ˈmeɪn/
noun
plural
mains
2
main
/ˈmeɪn/
noun
plural
mains
Britannica Dictionary definition of MAIN
1
[count]
:
the largest pipe in a system of connected pipes
-
a gas main
-
a water main
2
the mains
British
a
:
the system of pipes or wires for electricity, gas, or water
— often used as mains before another noun
-
My radio runs either off batteries or off the mains.
-
We haven't had any mains water/electricity since the storm.
b
:
the place where electricity, gas, or water enters a building or room
-
Turn off the water at the mains.
in the main
:
in general
— used to say that a statement is true in most cases or at most times
-
The workers are in the main very capable. [=most of the workers are very capable]
-
The weather has in the main been quite good. [=has been quite good most of the time]
