| 释义 |
main
I. \ˈmān\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English mægen; akin to Old Saxon & Old High German magan, megin strength, main part, Old Norse magn, megin, strength, mega to be able — more at may
1. : physical strength : power — used in the phrase with might and main
2.
a. [by shortening] : mainland
b. [short for obsolete English main sea, from main (II) + sea] : high sea
3. [main (II) ] : the chief or principal part : the essential point
< the main of the lady's history — Robert Browning >
< he is one of those writers who, in the main, leave me cold — J.D.Adams >
4. obsolete : end, purpose, object
5. : a pipe, duct, or circuit to or from which lead tributary branches of a utility system and which carries their combined flow
< water main >
< gas main >
< sewer main >
< electric main >
— compare bus bar, lateral
6. [by shortening]
a. : mainmast
b. : mainsail
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English mayn, from Old English mægen-, from mægen, n.
1. : outstanding, conspicuous, or first in any respect : great, preeminent : principal
< the main office is located in New York >
< just inside the solid-glass main doors — Sylvia Gray >
< the main reason that any businessman can understand — Wall Street Journal >
2. now chiefly dialect : large in amount, effect, or extent : great
3.
a. obsolete : having or manifesting great strength or power : mighty
< soaring on main wing — John Milton >
b. : fully exerted : sheer
< keep her in bed by main force — Edna Ferber >
4. obsolete : of or relating to wide reaches or expanse (as of sea or land)
5. : connected with or located near the mainmast or mainsail
6. : expressing the chief predication in a complex sentence
< main clause >
< main predicate >
< main verb >
Synonyms: see chief
III. noun
(-s)
Etymology: probably from main (II)
1.
a. : a number exceeding four and not exceeding nine called by the caster in the game of hazard before throwing
b. : line 13a
2.
a. : an archery match
b. archaic : a boxing match
c. archaic : a lawn bowling match
3. : a cockfight series consisting of an odd number of matches
< got himself a fighting cock … and was making himself a little money in the chicken mains — Erskine Caldwell >
IV. adverb
Etymology: probably from main (II)
now dialect : very, extremely
< it was main hot — R.L.Stevenson > |