Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

main       (mān)  Pronunciation Key  adj.   Most important; principal. See Synonyms at chief. Exerted to the utmost; sheer: by main strength. Nautical Connected to or located near the mainmast: a main skysail. Grammar Of, relating to, or being the principal clause or verb of a complex sentence. Obsolete Of or relating to a continuous area or stretch, as of land or water. n.   The chief or largest part: His ideas are, in the main, impractical. The principal pipe or conduit in a system for conveying water, gas, oil, or other utility. Physical strength: fought with might and main. A mainland. The open ocean. Nautical A mainsail. A mainmast. [Middle English, from Old English mægen, strength; see magh- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Main       (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.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
main  (n.)

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
main  (adj.)

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

main
adjective
1.	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

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

main

In addition to the idioms beginning with main, also see eye to the main chance; in the main; might and main.

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

West Main, OR Zip code(s): 97501

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Main

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Main

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Main

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Main

Main\, adv. [See Main, a.] Very; extremely; as, main heavy. "I'm main dry." --Foote. [Obs. or Low]