in the main, for the most part; chiefly: In the main, the novel was dull reading.
[Origin: bef. 900; (n.) ME meyn, mayn strength, power, OE mægen, c. ON megin(n), megn strength; (adj.) ME mayn, partly < ON megenn, megn strong, partly independent use of OE mægen (n.) taken as an adj. in compounds, as in mægen-weorc, lit., work of might]
MainAudio Help (mān, mīn) Pronunciation Key
A river rising in eastern Germany and flowing about 499 km (310 mi) generally westward to the Rhine River at Mainz.
O.E. mægen (n.) "power, strength, force," from P.Gmc. *maginam- "power," from *mag- "be able, have power" (see may). Original sense preserved in phrase with might and main. Meaning "principal channel in a utility system" is first recorded 1727 in main drain; Used since 1548 for "continuous stretch of land or water."
c.1205, "large, bulky, strong," from O.E. mægen- "power, strength, force," used in compounds (see main (n.)), probably infl. by O.N. megenn (adj.) "strong, powerful." Sense of "chief" is c.1400. In Spanish Main the word is short for mainland (1375) and refers to the coast between Panama and Orinoco. Main man "favorite male friend, hero" is from 1967, U.S. black slang.
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]
2.
(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] [ant: dependent]
3.
of force; of the greatest possible intensity; "by main strength"
noun
1.
any very large body of (salt) water
2.
a principal pipe in a system that distributes water or gas or electricity or that collects sewage
(alsomains) the chief pipe or cable in a branching system of pipes or cables Example: The water's been turned off at the main(s); (also adjective) the mains electricity supply
Arabic:
الخَط الرِّئيسي
Chinese (Simplified):
干线
Chinese (Traditional):
幹線
Czech:
hlavní vedení, *potrubí
Danish:
hovedledning; hoved-
Dutch:
hoofdleiding
Estonian:
peajuhe, magistraaltoru
Finnish:
pääjohto, jakeluverkko
French:
conduite maîtresse
German:
die Hauptleitung; Haupt-…
Greek:
κεντρικός αγωγός, κεντρική παροχή
Hungarian:
fővezeték; hálózat
Icelandic:
aðalæð
Indonesian:
induk
Italian:
tubatura principale*
Japanese:
本管
Korean:
본관
Latvian:
maģistrāle
Lithuanian:
pagrindinė linija, magistralė
Norwegian:
hovedledning (for vann, gass osv.)
Polish:
magistrala, sieć
Portuguese (Brazil):
tronco principal
Portuguese (Portugal):
fonte
Romanian:
coloană, *conductă principală
Russian:
магистраль
Slovak:
hlavné vedenie , * potrubie
Slovenian:
glavni vod napeljave
Spanish:
conducto principal, tubería principal, cañería principal
A*main"\, adv. [Pref. a- + main. See 2d Main, n.]1. With might; with full force; vigorously; violently; exceedingly. They on the hill, which were not yet come to blows, perceiving the fewness of their enemies, came down amain. --Milton. That striping giant, ill-bred and scoffing, shouts amain. --T. Parker. 2. At full speed; in great haste; also, at once. "They fled amain." --Holinshed.
Main\, n. [F. main hand, L. manus. See Manual.]1. A hand or match at dice. --Prior. Thackeray. 2. A stake played for at dice. [Obs.] --Shak. 3. The largest throw in a match at dice; a throw at dice within given limits, as in the game of hazard. 4. A match at cockfighting. "My lord would ride twenty miles . . . to see a main fought." --Thackeray. 5. A main-hamper. [Obs.] --Ainsworth.
Main\, n. [AS. m[ae]gen strength, power, force; akin to OHG. magan, Icel. megin, and to E. may, v. ?. See May, v.]1. Strength; force; might; violent effort. [Obs., except in certain phrases.] There were in this battle of most might and main. --R. of Gl. He 'gan advance, With huge force, and with importable main. --Spenser. 2. The chief or principal part; the main or most important thing. [Obs., except in special uses.] Resolved to rest upon the title of Lancaster as the main, and to use the other two . . . but as supporters. --Bacon. 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. 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. With might and main they chased the murderous fox. --Dryden.
Main\, a. [From Main strength, possibly influenced by OF. maine, magne, great, L. magnus. Cf. Magnate.]1. Very or extremely strong. [Obs.] That current with main fury ran. --Daniel. 2. Vast; huge. [Obs.] "The main abyss." --Milton. 3. Unqualified; absolute; entire; sheer. [Obs.] "It's a man untruth." --Sir W. Scott. 4. Principal; chief; first in size, rank, importance, etc. Our main interest is to be happy as we can. --Tillotson. 5. Important; necessary. [Obs.] That which thou aright Believest so main to our success, I bring. --Milton. By main force, by mere force or sheer force; by violent effort; as, to subdue insurrection by main force. That Maine which by main force Warwick did win. --Shak. 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. Syn: Principal; chief; leading; cardinal; capital.
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Audio Help [meyn] Pronunciation Key 
