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单词 main
释义

Trends of
main

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main

(meɪn)
Word forms: plural mains
1. adjective
The main thing is the most important one of several similar things in a particular situation.
...one of the main tourist areas of Amsterdam.
My main concern now is to protect the children.
What are the main differences and similarities between them?
Synonyms: chief, leading, major, prime More Synonyms of main
2. 
See in the main
3. countable noun [usually plural]
The mains are the pipes which supply gas or water to buildings, or which take sewage away from them.
...the water supply from the mains.
The capital has been without mains water since Wednesday night.
4. plural noun
The mains are the wires which supply electricity to buildings, or the place where the wires end inside the building.
[mainly British]
...amplifiers which plug into the mains.
Make sure plugs are disconnected from the mains.
It is mains or battery powered.
More Synonyms of main
English Easy Learning GrammarSentences and clausesA clause is a group of words which contains a verb. The verb in a clause can be finite
Use this pan for the pasta.
He missed the turnoff.
or non-finite.
To ...   Read more

main in British English 1

(meɪn)
adjective (prenominal)
1. 
chief or principal in rank, importance, size, etc
2. 
sheer or utmost (esp in the phrase by main force)
3.  nautical
of, relating to, or denoting any gear, such as a stay or sail, belonging to the mainmast
4.  obsolete
significant or important
noun
5. 
a principal pipe, conduit, duct, or line in a system used to distribute water, electricity, etc
6. (plural)
a. 
the main distribution network for water, gas, or electricity
b. 
(as modifier)
mains voltage
7. 
the chief or most important part or consideration
8. 
great strength or force (now chiefly in the phrase (with) might and main)
9.  literary
the open ocean
10.  archaic short for Spanish Main
11.  archaic short for mainland
12.  in the main
Word origin
C13: from Old English mægen strength

main in British English 2

(meɪn)
noun
1. 
a throw of the dice in dice games
2. 
a cockfighting contest
3. 
a match in archery, boxing, etc
Word origin
C16: of unknown origin

Main in British English

(meɪn, German main)
noun
a river in central and W Germany, flowing west through Würzburg and Frankfurt to the Rhine. Length: about 515 km (320 miles)

Main in American English

(maɪn; E meɪn)
river in SW Germany, flowing west into the Rhine at Mainz: 307 mi (494 km)
Word origin
G < Gaul Moenus < IE *moin-, river name < base *mei-, to go, wander > L meare, to go

main in American English

(meɪn)
noun
1. 
physical strength; force; power
now only in with might and main, with all one's strength
2. 
the principal or most important part or point
usually in the phrase in the main, mostly, chiefly
3. 
a principal pipe, conduit, or line in a distribution system for water, gas, electricity,etc.
4.  OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic
the high, or open, sea; ocean
5.  Archaic
the mainland
see also Spanish Main
6.  Obsolete
any broad expanse
7.  Nautical
a. 
mainmast
b. 
mainsail
adjective
8.  Obsolete
strong; powerful
9. 
chief in size, extent, importance, etc.; principal; leading; specif., designating a large central unit on which subsidiaries or branches depend
the main post office
10. 
of, near, or connected with the mainmast or mainsail
11.  British, Dialectal
remarkable; considerable
12.  Obsolete
designating a broad expanse of land, sea, or space
SIMILAR WORDS:  chief
Idioms:
by main force (or strength)
Word origin
ME < OE mægen, akin to ON magn: see might1

More idioms containing
main

have an eye for the main chance

Examples of 'main' in a sentence
main

Rooms are in the main building or an annexe.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This needs to become one of the main selling points for engineering companies.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What will be your main focus areas this year?
Computing (2010)
There are two main reasons for this.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
There are three main theories about why this is.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The main thing was not to leave clues in the first place.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The main problem is that it leads you somewhere then it all goes a bit opaque.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They are one of our main rivals and very tough.
The Sun (2016)
Yet the car can also be plugged into the mains and charged overnight.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The gift shop in the main building is tucked away down the stairs.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The two main areas of concern are movement and return of serve.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The technology works by reducing the voltage of mains electricity entering a home or business.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
What are the main points of difference?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We live in the countryside so we have an oil tank rather than mains gas.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The three main leaders set out clearly where they stand on tax.
The Sun (2014)
The main one is that we are incredible at facing adversity.
The Sun (2013)
He was an outstanding footballer and that was the main reason we wanted him.
The Sun (2015)
Your neighbours have two main direct legal rights that could interfere with the work.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
My main objection to capital punishment is that an innocent person might die.
The Sun (2008)
The main problem is your lack of trust.
The Sun (2013)
Perhaps then the east coast main line might get some investment.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The main avenues were lined with trees.
Aldiss, Brian Somewhere East of Life (1994)
They all need kilometres of heavy wiring and are drains on the main battery.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The fact her main concern was my personal happiness made all the difference.
The Sun (2011)
They are driven solely by electricity and designed to be plugged into the mains overnight.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Accommodation is in the main building or whitewashed villas furnished in a contemporary style.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The questions have been put under a few headings representing the main topic areas.
Fletcher, Clive How to Face Interviews (1981)

In other languages
main

British English: main /meɪn/ ADJECTIVE
The main thing is the most important one.
...one of the main tourist areas of the city.
  • American English: main
  • Arabic: أَسَاسِيّ
  • Brazilian Portuguese: principal
  • Chinese: 主要的
  • Croatian: glavni
  • Czech: hlavní
  • Danish: vigtigste
  • Dutch: hoofd-
  • European Spanish: principal
  • Finnish: pää-
  • French: principal plus important
  • German: Haupt-
  • Greek: κύριος
  • Italian: principale
  • Japanese: 主な
  • Korean: 주요한
  • Norwegian: hoved-
  • Polish: główny najważniejszy
  • European Portuguese: principal
  • Romanian: principal
  • Russian: главный
  • Latin American Spanish: principal
  • Swedish: huvud-
  • Thai: หลัก
  • Turkish: temel
  • Ukrainian: головний
  • Vietnamese: chủ yếu

Definition of 'main'

Chinese translation of 'main'

main

(meɪn)

adj

  1. [reason, place, entrance, meal] 主要的 (zhǔyào de)
    ⇒ My main concern is to protect the children. 保护孩子们是我主要关心的事。 (Bǎohù háizimen shì wǒ zhǔyào guānxīn de shì.)
    ⇒ Mrs Foster hurried through the main entrance. 福斯特太太匆匆忙忙地从主入口进来了。 (Fúsītè tàitai cōngcōng mángmáng de cóng zhǔrùkǒu jìnlái le.)

n (c)

  1. (= pipe) [water, gas] 总(總)管道 (zǒng guǎndào)
    ⇒ A bulldozer had severed a gas main. 推土机切断了一条煤气总管道。 (Tuītǔjī qiēduànle yī tiáo méiqì zǒngguǎndào.)
    in the main (= in general) 大体(體)上 (dàtǐshàng)

All related terms of 'main'

main road
主干(幹)道 zhǔgàndào [ 条(條) tiáo ]
main course
主菜 zhǔcài [ 道 dào ]
main street
大街 dàjiē [ 条(條) tiáo ] [ 英 = high street ]
in the main
( in general ) 大体(體)上 dàtǐshàng
main/subordinate clause
( Ling ) 主/从(從)句 zhǔ/cóngjù
the main/central plank
( of policy, argument ) 主要/中心政纲(綱)准(準)则(則) zhǔyào/zhōngxīn zhènggāng zhǔnzé
it's 15 km off the main road
它离(離)主干(幹)道15公里远(遠) tā lí zhǔgàndào shíwǔ gōnglǐ yuǎn
the house is on the main road
房子在主路旁 fángzi zài zhǔlù páng
to drive on full or main or ( US ) high beam
驾(駕)车(車)时(時)，前大灯(燈)都开(開)着(著) jiàchē shí, qián dàdēng dōu kāizhe
1 (adjective) 
Definition
chief or principal
My main concern now is to protect the children.
Synonyms
chief
Financial stress is acknowledged as a chief reason for divorce.
The job went to one of his chief rivals.
leading
Britain's future as a leading industrial nation depends on investment.
major
We heard extracts from three of his major works.
prime
Political stability is a prime concern.
head
I had the head man out from the gas company.
special
He is a special correspondent for Newsweek magazine.
central
a central part of government policy
particular
necessary
essential
It is absolutely essential that we find this man quickly.
premier
the country's premier opera company
primary
His primary aim in life is to be happy.
vital
a blockade which could cut off vital oil and gas supplies
critical
crucial
supreme
He proposes to make himself the supreme overlord.
outstanding
principal
Their principal concern is that of winning the next election.
cardinal
The cardinal rule is to do everything you can to satisfy the customer.
paramount
The welfare of the children must be of paramount importance.
foremost
He was one of the world's foremost scholars.
predominant
He played a predominant role in shaping French economic policy.
pre-eminent
He is the pre-eminent political figure in the country.
must-have
Opposites
least
,
minor
,
secondary
,
dependent
,
lesser
, subordinate,
trivial
,
insignificant
,
unimportant
,
auxiliary
2 (adjective) 
She had to be held back by main force.
Synonyms
sheer
acts of sheer desperation
direct
We deny there is any direct connection between the two cases.
entire
He assured me of his entire confidence in me.
pure
The old man turned to give her a look of pure surprise.
mere
absolute
A sick person needs to have absolute trust in a doctor.
utter
A look of utter confusion swept across his handsome face.
utmost
downright
downright bad manners
brute
undisguised
(noun) 
Definition
great strength or force
Synonyms
force
slamming the door behind her with all her force
might
The might of the army could prove a decisive factor.
power
the power of his rhetoric
effort
A great deal of effort had been put into the planning.
strength
He was surprised at the strength of his own feeling.
potency
The potency of the flavours increases with time.
puissance
1 (plural noun) 
Definition
a principal pipe or line in a system used to distribute water, electricity, or gas
the water supply from the mains
Synonyms
pipeline
channel
pipe
conduit
duct
2 (plural noun) 
Definition
the main distribution network for water, gas, or electricity
amplifiers which plug into the mains
Synonyms
cable
line
electricity supply
mains supply

idiom

See in the main

Additional synonyms

in the sense of absolute
Definition
total and complete
A sick person needs to have absolute trust in a doctor.
Synonyms
complete,
total,
perfect,
entire,
pure,
sheer,
utter,
outright,
thorough,
downright,
consummate,
unqualified,
full-on (informal),
out-and-out,
unadulterated,
unmitigated,
dyed-in-the-wool,
thoroughgoing,
unalloyed,
unmixed,
arrant (derogatory),
deep-dyed
in the sense of cardinal
Definition
fundamentally important
The cardinal rule is to do everything you can to satisfy the customer.
Synonyms
principal,
first,
highest,
greatest,
leading,
important,
chief,
main,
prime,
central,
key,
essential,
primary,
fundamental,
paramount,
foremost,
pre-eminent
in the sense of central
Definition
main or principal
a central part of government policy
Synonyms
main,
central,
chief,
key,
essential,
primary,
principal,
fundamental,
focal

Synonyms of 'main'

main

Explore 'main' in the dictionary

Additional synonyms

in the sense of direct
We deny there is any direct connection between the two cases.
Synonyms
clear,
specific,
plain,
absolute,
distinct,
definite,
explicit,
downright,
point-blank,
unequivocal,
unqualified,
unambiguous,
categorical
in the sense of downright
Definition
absolute
downright bad manners
Synonyms
complete,
absolute,
utter,
total,
positive (informal),
clear,
plain,
simple,
explicit,
outright,
blatant,
unequivocal,
unqualified,
out-and-out,
categorical,
undisguised,
thoroughgoing,
arrant,
deep-dyed
in the sense of effort
Definition
physical or mental energy needed to do something
A great deal of effort had been put into the planning.
Synonyms
exertion,
work,
labour,
trouble,
force,
energy,
struggle,
stress,
application,
strain,
striving,
graft,
toil,
welly (slang),
hard graft,
travail (literary),
elbow grease (facetious),
blood, sweat, and tears (informal)
in the sense of entire
He assured me of his entire confidence in me.
Synonyms
absolute,
full,
total,
utter,
outright,
thorough,
unqualified,
unrestricted,
undiminished,
unmitigated,
unreserved
in the sense of essential
Definition
vitally important
It is absolutely essential that we find this man quickly.
Synonyms
vital,
important,
needed,
necessary,
critical,
crucial (informal),
key,
indispensable,
requisite,
vitally important,
must-have
in the sense of foremost
Definition
first in time, place, or importance
He was one of the world's foremost scholars.
Synonyms
leading,
best,
first,
top,
highest,
front,
chief,
prime,
primary,
supreme,
initial,
most important,
principal,
paramount,
inaugural,
pre-eminent,
headmost
in the sense of head
I had the head man out from the gas company.
Synonyms
chief,
main,
leading,
first,
highest,
front,
prime,
premier,
supreme,
principal,
arch,
foremost,
pre-eminent,
topmost
in the sense of leading
Definition
principal or primary
Britain's future as a leading industrial nation depends on investment.
Synonyms
principal,
top,
major,
main,
first,
highest,
greatest,
ruling,
chief,
prime,
key,
primary,
supreme,
most important,
outstanding,
governing,
superior,
dominant,
foremost,
pre-eminent,
unsurpassed,
number one
in the sense of major
Definition
main or principal
We heard extracts from three of his major works.
Synonyms
main,
higher,
greater,
bigger,
lead,
leading,
head,
larger,
better,
chief,
senior,
supreme,
superior,
elder,
uppermost
in the sense of might
Definition
great power, strength, or vigour
The might of the army could prove a decisive factor.
Synonyms
power,
force,
energy,
ability,
strength,
capacity,
efficiency,
capability,
sway,
clout (informal),
vigour,
prowess,
potency,
efficacy,
valour,
puissance,
hard power

Additional synonyms

in the sense of paramount
Definition
of the greatest importance
The welfare of the children must be of paramount importance.
Synonyms
principal,
prime,
first,
chief,
main,
capital,
primary,
supreme,
outstanding,
superior,
dominant,
cardinal,
foremost,
eminent,
predominant,
pre-eminent
in the sense of potency
The potency of the flavours increases with time.
Synonyms
power,
force,
strength,
effectiveness,
efficacy
in the sense of power
Definition
political, financial, or social force or authority
the power of his rhetoric
Synonyms
forcefulness,
force,
strength,
punch (informal),
intensity,
potency,
eloquence,
persuasiveness,
cogency,
powerfulness
in the sense of pre-eminent
Definition
outstanding
He is the pre-eminent political figure in the country.
Synonyms
outstanding,
supreme,
paramount,
chief,
excellent,
distinguished,
superior,
renowned,
foremost,
consummate,
predominant,
transcendent,
unrivalled,
incomparable,
peerless,
unsurpassed,
unequalled,
matchless
in the sense of predominant
Definition
being more important or noticeable than others
He played a predominant role in shaping French economic policy.
Synonyms
principal,
leading,
important,
prime,
controlling,
ruling,
chief,
capital,
primary,
supreme,
prominent,
superior,
dominant,
sovereign,
top-priority,
ascendant
in the sense of premier
Definition
first in importance or rank
the country's premier opera company
Synonyms
chief,
leading,
top,
first,
highest,
head,
main,
prime,
primary,
principal,
arch,
foremost
in the sense of primary
Definition
first in importance
His primary aim in life is to be happy.
Synonyms
chief,
leading,
main,
best,
first,
highest,
greatest,
top,
prime,
capital,
principal,
dominant,
cardinal,
paramount
in the sense of prime
Definition
first in importance
Political stability is a prime concern.
Synonyms
main,
leading,
chief,
central,
major,
ruling,
key,
senior,
primary,
supreme,
principal,
ultimate,
cardinal,
paramount,
overriding,
foremost,
predominant,
pre-eminent,
number-one (informal)
in the sense of principal
Definition
first in importance, rank, or value
Their principal concern is that of winning the next election.
Synonyms
main,
leading,
chief,
prime,
first,
highest,
controlling,
strongest,
capital,
key,
essential,
primary,
most important,
dominant,
arch,
cardinal,
paramount,
foremost,
pre-eminent
in the sense of pure
Definition
complete
The old man turned to give her a look of pure surprise.
Synonyms
complete,
total,
perfect,
absolute,
mere,
sheer,
patent,
utter,
outright,
thorough,
downright,
palpable,
unqualified,
out-and-out,
unmitigated

Additional synonyms

in the sense of special
Definition
particular or primary
He is a special correspondent for Newsweek magazine.
Synonyms
major,
chief,
main,
primary
in the sense of strength
Definition
degree of intensity or concentration of colour, light, sound, or flavour
He was surprised at the strength of his own feeling.
Synonyms
force,
power,
intensity,
energy,
depth,
vehemence,
intenseness
in the sense of supreme
Definition
of highest quality or importance
He proposes to make himself the supreme overlord.
Synonyms
chief,
leading,
principal,
first,
highest,
head,
top,
prime,
cardinal,
foremost,
pre-eminent,
peerless
in the sense of utter
Definition
total or absolute
A look of utter confusion swept across his handsome face.
Synonyms
absolute,
complete,
total,
perfect,
positive (informal),
pure,
sheer,
stark (derogatory),
outright,
all-out,
thorough,
downright (derogatory),
real,
consummate,
veritable,
unqualified,
out-and-out,
unadulterated,
unmitigated,
thoroughgoing,
arrant (derogatory),
deep-dyed (derogatory)
in the sense of vital
Definition
essential or highly important
a blockade which could cut off vital oil and gas supplies
Synonyms
essential,
important,
necessary,
key,
basic,
significant,
critical,
radical,
crucial (informal),
fundamental,
urgent,
decisive,
cardinal,
imperative,
indispensable,
requisite,
life-or-death,
must-have
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