mainˈbrace noun

The brace attached to the mainyard (see also splice)

main chance see under chance

main clause noun (grammar)

Same as principal clause (see under principal)

main course noun

1. The mainsail on square-rigged ships
2. The principal course of any meal

mainˈ-deck noun

The principal deck of a ship

mainˈdoor noun

1. A door giving independent access to a house, distinguished from one opening into a common passage
2. A ground-floor house in a tenement building or villa-block, entered from the front by a door of its own (Scot)

main drag see under drag

mainˈframe noun

A large, powerful computer, often with many simultaneous users, as opposed to a minicomputer or microcomputer

adjective

(of a computer) that is a mainframe

mainˈland /-lənd, -land/ noun

The principal or larger land, as opposed to neighbouring islands

mainˈlander noun

main line noun

1. A railway line between important centres
2. A principal route, course, etc
3. An important vein (slang)

mainˈline adjective

Of or situated on a major route

intransitive verb and transitive verb (slang)

1. To take (a narcotic) intravenously
2. To consume (something) voraciously or at speed

mainˈliner noun

mainˈlining noun

mainˈmast /-məst, -mäst/ noun

The principal mast, usually second from the prow

main memory noun (computing)

Same as main store below

main plane noun

The wings of an aeroplane considered as a unit

main purpose rule noun (law)

A rule presuming that an exemption clause in a contract, etc, is not intended to defeat the main object of that contract

mainˈsail /-sl, -sāl/ noun

The principal sail, generally attached to the mainmast

main sequence noun (astronomy)

The principal sequence of stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, running diagonally from upper left (high temperature, high luminosity) to lower right (low temperature, low luminosity) and containing about 90% of all known stars

mainˈsheet noun

The sheet or rope attached to the lower corner of the mainsail

mainˈspring noun

1. The spring that gives motion to any piece of machinery, esp that of a watch or a clock
2. Principal motive, motivating influence (figurative)

mainˈstay noun

1. A rope stretching forward and down from the top of the mainmast
2. Chief support

main store noun

The part of a computer's memory holding data and programs before, during, and after processing or execution

main stream noun

1. A river with tributaries
2. The chief direction or trend in any historical development, including that of an art

mainˈstream adjective

1. Relating to the main stream (lit and figurative)
2. (of cigarette smoke) that which is drawn into a smoker's mouth or lungs
3. (of swing) coming in the line of development between early and modern (jazz)
4. In accordance with what is normal or standard

transitive verb (esp N American)

1. To make mainstream
2. To integrate (children with disabilities) into classes of able-bodied children (education)

mainˈstreaming noun

Main Street adjective (US; also without cap)

Relating to the most mediocre or materialistic aspects of town or city life

mainˈstreeting noun (Can)

Electioneering or canvassing of support by a political candidate in the main streets of town, etc

mainˈtop noun

A platform on the top of the lower mainmast

maintop-gallˈant-mast noun

The mast above the maintopmast

maintopˈmast noun

The mast next above the lower mainmast

maintopˈsail noun

The sail above the mainsail, in square-rigged ships

mainˈyard noun

The lower yard on the mainmast

in the main

1. For the most part
2. On the whole

might and main

Utmost strength

Spanish Main see under Spanish