principal

adjective

/ˈprɪnsəpl/

[only before noun]

jump to other results

most important; main
- The principal reason for this omission is lack of time.
- New roads will link the principal cities of the area.
- Tourist revenue is now our principal source of wealth.
- My principal concern is to get the job done fast.
- The violins have the principal tune.
Homophones principal | principle
principal principle
/ˈprɪnsəpl/

/ˈprɪnsəpl/
- principal adjective
  They were joined on stage by their principal conductor.
- principal noun
  The college is excited to announce the appointment of a new principal.
- principle noun
  Many green activists oppose GM crops on principle.
Synonyms main
main
- major
- key
- central
- principal
- chief
- prime
These words all describe somebody/something that is the largest or most important of its kind.
- main [only before noun] largest or most important:
  Be careful crossing the main road.
  The main thing is to remain calm.
- major [usually before noun] very large or important:
  He played a major role in setting up the system.
  When major is used with the or my/your/his/her/our/their it means ‘the largest or most important’: Our major concern here is combating poverty. In this meaning it is only used to talk about ideas or worries that people have, not physical things, and it is also more formal than main: Be careful crossing the major road. • The major thing is to remain calm.
- key [usually before noun] most important; essential:
  He was a key figure in the campaign.
  Key is used most frequently in business and political contexts. It can be used to talk about ideas, or the part that somebody plays in a situation, but not physical things. It is slightly more informal than major, especially when used after a noun and linking verb: Speed is key at this point.
- central (rather formal) most important:
  The central issue is that of widespread racism.
  Central is used in a similar way to key, but is more formal. It is most frequently used in the phrase something is central to something else.
- principal [only before noun] (rather formal) most important:
  The principal reason for this omission is lack of time.
  Principal is mostly used for statements of fact about which there can be no argument. To state an opinion, or to try to persuade somebody of the facts as you see them, it is more usual to use key or central: The key/central issue here is…
- chief [only before noun] (rather formal) most important:
  Unemployment was the chief cause of poverty.
- prime [only before noun] (rather formal) most important; to be considered first:
  My prime concern is to protect my property.
Patterns
- a/the main/major/key/central/principal/chief/prime aim/concern
- a/the main/major/principal road/town/city
- the main/key thing is to…
- to be of major/key/central/prime importance
Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin principalis ‘first, original’, from princeps, princip- ‘first, chief’.

principal

noun

/ˈprɪnsəpl/

jump to other results

(British English, Canadian English) the person who is in charge of a college or (in Scotland and Canada) a university
- Peter Brown, principal of St John’s College
see also dean
Homophones principal | principle
principal principle
/ˈprɪnsəpl/

/ˈprɪnsəpl/
- principal adjective
  They were joined on stage by their principal conductor.
- principal noun
  The college is excited to announce the appointment of a new principal.
- principle noun
  Many green activists oppose GM crops on principle.
Extra Examples
- She was appointed as the first principal of Cambridge Training College.
- The college principal says he's pleased with this year's results.
Topics Educationc1, Jobsc1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- college
- school
- elementary-school
- …
See full entry
(North American English)
(British English head teacher)
a teacher who is in charge of a school
- Principal Ray Smith
- The regulations have been opposed by local high school principals.
Topics Educationc1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- college
- school
- elementary-school
- …
See full entry
[usually singular] (finance) an amount of money that you lend to somebody or invest to earn interest
- The principal must be repaid in full within ten years.
the person who has the most important part in a play, an opera, etc.
- The performance of the two principals is disappointing.
(specialist) a person that you are representing, especially in business or law
- The shareholders are principals and the managers are agents.

Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin principalis ‘first, original’, from princeps, princip- ‘first, chief’.

单词	principal
释义	principal adjective /ˈprɪnsəpl/ /ˈprɪnsəpl/ [only before noun] jump to other results most important; main The principal reason for this omission is lack of time. New roads will link the principal cities of the area. Tourist revenue is now our principal source of wealth. My principal concern is to get the job done fast. The violins have the principal tune. Homophones principal \| principleprincipal principle /ˈprɪnsəpl/ /ˈprɪnsəpl/ principal adjective They were joined on stage by their principal conductor. principal noun The college is excited to announce the appointment of a new principal. principle noun Many green activists oppose GM crops on principle. Synonyms mainmain major key central principal chief prime These words all describe somebody/something that is the largest or most important of its kind. main [only before noun] largest or most important: Be careful crossing the main road. The main thing is to remain calm. major [usually before noun] very large or important: He played a major role in setting up the system. When major is used with the or my/your/his/her/our/their it means ‘the largest or most important’: Our major concern here is combating poverty. In this meaning it is only used to talk about ideas or worries that people have, not physical things, and it is also more formal than main: Be careful crossing the major road. • The major thing is to remain calm. key [usually before noun] most important; essential: He was a key figure in the campaign. Key is used most frequently in business and political contexts. It can be used to talk about ideas, or the part that somebody plays in a situation, but not physical things. It is slightly more informal than major, especially when used after a noun and linking verb: Speed is key at this point. central (rather formal) most important: The central issue is that of widespread racism. Central is used in a similar way to key, but is more formal. It is most frequently used in the phrase something is central to something else. principal [only before noun] (rather formal) most important: The principal reason for this omission is lack of time. Principal is mostly used for statements of fact about which there can be no argument. To state an opinion, or to try to persuade somebody of the facts as you see them, it is more usual to use key or central: The key/central issue here is… chief [only before noun] (rather formal) most important: Unemployment was the chief cause of poverty. prime [only before noun] (rather formal) most important; to be considered first: My prime concern is to protect my property. Patterns a/the main/major/key/central/principal/chief/prime aim/concern a/the main/major/principal road/town/city the main/key thing is to… to be of major/key/central/prime importance Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin principalis ‘first, original’, from princeps, princip- ‘first, chief’. principal noun /ˈprɪnsəpl/ /ˈprɪnsəpl/ jump to other results (British English, Canadian English) the person who is in charge of a college or (in Scotland and Canada) a university Peter Brown, principal of St John’s College see also dean Homophones principal \| principleprincipal principle /ˈprɪnsəpl/ /ˈprɪnsəpl/ principal adjective They were joined on stage by their principal conductor. principal noun The college is excited to announce the appointment of a new principal. principle noun Many green activists oppose GM crops on principle. Extra Examples She was appointed as the first principal of Cambridge Training College. The college principal says he's pleased with this year's results. Topics Educationc1, Jobsc1 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective college school elementary-school … See full entry (North American English) (British English head teacher) a teacher who is in charge of a school Principal Ray Smith The regulations have been opposed by local high school principals. Topics Educationc1 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective college school elementary-school … See full entry [usually singular] (finance) an amount of money that you lend to somebody or invest to earn interest The principal must be repaid in full within ten years. the person who has the most important part in a play, an opera, etc. The performance of the two principals is disappointing. (specialist) a person that you are representing, especially in business or law The shareholders are principals and the managers are agents. Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin principalis ‘first, original’, from princeps, princip- ‘first, chief’.
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