main /meɪn/adjective 6noun 17verb 3adverb 1forms 6phrases 3 adjective6 •more important than all the othersThe main office is actually one of the smaller rooms. •Chief, most important, or principal in extent, size, or strength; consisting of the largest part.main timbers •Belonging to or connected with the principal mast in a vessel. •(dialect) Big; angry. •(no longer used) Full, sheer, undivided.[…] I shall never forget the diabolical sneer which writhed Rashleigh's wayward features, as I was forced from the apartment by the main strength of two of these youthful Titans. — 1817 •(no longer used) Great in size or degree; important, powerful, strong, vast.And now that Current with main Fury ran / (The Stop remov'd that did the Course defend) / Unto the full of Mischief, that began / T' an universal Ruin to extend; […] — 1718 noun17 •That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the bulk, the greater part, gross. •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. •(informal) Ellipsis of main course (“the principal dish of a meal”).I had scampi and chips for my main and a slice of cheesecake for dessert. •The primary character that one plays in a video game in which one can play more than one character.My WoW main has reached level cap and I’m on my way getting my first alt there as well. •(Internet) A main account.His main got banned after his last post. •Ellipsis of Main Street (“main street”), a central street of a community. •A river in southern Germany, flowing from Bavaria to the Rhine. •(literary) The high seas.Who shall him rew, that swimming in the maine, / Will die for thrist, and water doth refuse? / Refuse such fruitlesse toile, and present pleasures chuse. — 1590 •Ellipsis of mainsail. •A banker's shovel for coins. •(dialect, no longer used) The mainland.No man is an Iland, intire of it selfe; euery man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; […] — 1624 •(no longer used) Force, power, strength, violent effort. •(no longer used) A hand or match in a game of dice.That writing is but just like dice, / And lucky mains make people wise: / That jumbled words, if fortune throw 'em, / Shall, well as Dryden, form a poem; […] — 1689 •(no longer used) A sporting contest or match, especially a cockfighting match. •(no longer used) The largest throw in a match at dice; in the game of hazard, a number from one to nine called out by a person before the dice are thrown.Euery man hath not beene brought vp in the knowledge of toungs. And it chanceth often to the reader, as it doth to diceplayers, that gaine more by the bye then by the maine. — 1598 •(no longer used) A stake played for at dice.[W]ere it good / To set the exact wealth of al our states / Al at one cast? to set so rich a maine / On the nice hazard of one doubtfull houre? — 1597 •(no longer used, rare) A basket for gathering grapes. verb3 •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? •(slang) Ellipsis of mainline (“to inject (a drug) directly into a vein”). •(no longer used) To convert (a road) into a main or primary road. adverb1 •(dialect, UK) Exceedingly, extremely, greatly, mightily, very, very much.Suck[y]. A Draught of Ale, Friend, for I'm main dry. / Pen[elope]. Fie! fie! Niece! Is that Liquor for a young Lady? Don't disparage your Family and Breeding! — 1754 formsmained · maining · mains · more main · mainest · most main Phrases with main main characterA person who becomes a focal point of discussion on a social media platform (particularly Twitter). main eventThe principal match, bout or contest. main manOne's closest male friend.
