Definitions for MAIN
meɪn, maɪnmain

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.0 / 3 votes

1. main, brinynoun

   any very large body of (salt) water

2. mainadjective

   a principal pipe in a system that distributes water or gas or electricity or that collects sewage

3. chief(a), main(a), primary(a), principal(a), master(a)adjective

   most important element

   "the chief aim of living"; "the main doors were of solid glass"; "the principal rivers of America"; "the principal example"; "policemen were primary targets"; "the master bedroom"; "a master switch"

4. independent, main(a)adjective

   (of a clause) capable of standing syntactically alone as a complete sentence

   "the main (or independent) clause in a complex sentence has at least a subject and a verb"

5. main(a)adjective

   of force; of the greatest possible intensity

   "by main strength"

GCIDERate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. Mainadjective

   Principal; chief; first in size, rank, importance, etc.; as, the main reason to go; the main proponent.

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Mainnoun

   A river in southern Germany, flowing from Bavaria to the Rhine.

2. Etymology: From mægen, later also taking senses from the adjective.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Mainadjective

   Etymology: magne, old French; magnus, Latin.

   1. Principal; chief; leading.

   In every grand or main publick duty which God requireth at the hands of his church, there is, besides that matter and form wherein the essence thereof consisteth, a certain outward fashion, whereby the same is in decent manner administered. Richard Hooker, b. iv.

   There is a history in all mens lives,
   Figuring the nature of the times deceased;
   The which observ’d a man may prophesy,
   With a near aim, of the main chance of things
   As yet not come to life. William Shakespeare, Henry IV.

   He is superstitious grown of late,
   Quite from the main opinion he had once
   Of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies. William Shakespeare.

   There arose three notorious and main rebellions, which drew several armies out of England. John Davies, on Ireland.

   The nether flood,
   Which now divided into four main streams,
   Runs diverse. John Milton, Par. Lost, b. iv.

   I should be much for open war, O peers,
   If what was urg’d
   Main reason to persuade immediate war,
   Did not dissuade me most. John Milton, Par. Lost, b. ii.

   All creatures look to the main chance, that is, food and propagation. Roger L'Estrange, Fables.

   Our main interest is to be as happy as we can, and as long as possible. John Tillotson, Sermons.

   Nor tell me in a dying father’s tone,
   Be careful still of the main chance, my son;
   Put out the principal in trusty hands;
   Live on the use, and never dip thy lands. John Dryden, Pers.

   Whilst they have busied themselves in various learning, they have been wanting in the one main thing. Thomas Baker.

   Nor is it only in the main design, but they have followed him in every episode. Pope’s Pref. to the Iliad.

   2. Violent; strong; overpowering; vast.

   Think, you question with a Jew.
   You may as well go stand upon the beach,
   And bid the main flood bate his usual height. William Shakespeare.

   Seest thou what rage
   Transports our adversary, whom no bounds,
   Nor yet the main abyss,
   Wide interrupt, can hold? John Milton, Par. Lost, b. iii.

   3. Gross; containing the chief part.

   We ourself will follow
   In the main battle, which on either side
   Shall be well winged with our chiefest horse. William Shakespeare.

   All abreast
   Charg’d our main battle’s front. William Shakespeare, Henry VI.

   4. Important; forcible.

   This young prince, with a train of young noblemen and gentlemen, but not with any main army, came over to take possession of his new patrimony. John Davies, on Ireland.

   That, which thou aright
   Believ’st so main to our success, I bring. John Milton, Par. Lost.

2. Mainnoun

   1. The gross; the bulk; the greater part.

   The main of them may be reduced to language, and an improvement in wisdom, by seeing men. John Locke.

   2. The sum; the whole; the general.

   They allowed the liturgy and government of the church of England as to the main. Charles I .

   These notions concerning coinage have, for the main, been put into writing above twelve months. John Locke.

   3. The ocean.

   A substitute shines brightly as a king,
   Until a king be by; and then his state
   Empties itself, as doth an inland brook
   Into the main of waters. William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice.

   Where’s the king?
   Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea;
   Or swell the curled waters ’bove the main,
   That things might change. William Shakespeare, King Lear.

   He fell, and struggling in the main,
   Cry’d out for helping hands, but cry’d in vain. Dryden.

   Say, why should the collected main
   Itself within itself contain?
   Why to its caverns should it sometimes creep,
   And with delighted silence sleep
   On the lov’d bosom of its parent deep? Matthew Prior.

   4. Violence; force.

   He ’gan advance
   With huge force, and insupportable main,
   And towards him with dreadful fury prance. Fa. Qu.

   With might and main
   He hasted to get up again. Hudibras, p. i.

   With might and main they chac’d the murd’rous fox,
   With brazen trumpets, and inflated box. Dryden.

   5. [From manus, Latin.] A hand at dice.

   Were it good,
   To set the exact wealth of all our states
   All at one cast; to set so rich a main
   In the nice hazard of one doubtful hour. William Shakespeare.

   To pass our tedious hours away,
   We throw a merry main. Earl Dorset’s Song.

   Writing is but just like dice,
   And lucky mains make people wise:
   That jumbled words, if fortune throw them,
   Shall, well as John Dryden, form a poem. Matthew Prior.

   6. The continent.

   In 1589 we turned challengers, and invaded the main of Spain. Francis Bacon, War with Spain.

   7.A hamper. Robert Ainsworth

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. main

   Main refers to the primary or most important aspect or part of something. It signifies the central or principal focus, significance, or purpose of a subject or object. It can also indicate the dominant or prevailing idea, theme, or characteristic within a particular context.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Mainnoun

   a hand or match at dice

2. Mainnoun

   a stake played for at dice

3. Mainnoun

   the largest throw in a match at dice; a throw at dice within given limits, as in the game of hazard

4. Mainnoun

   a match at cockfighting

5. Mainnoun

   a main-hamper

6. Main

   strength; force; might; violent effort

7. Main

   the chief or principal part; the main or most important thing

8. Main

   the great sea, as distinguished from an arm, bay, etc. ; the high sea; the ocean

9. Main

   the continent, as distinguished from an island; the mainland

10. Main

    principal duct or pipe, as distinguished from lesser ones; esp. (Engin.), a principal pipe leading to or from a reservoir; as, a fire main

11. Mainadjective

    very or extremely strong

12. Mainadjective

    vast; huge

13. Mainadjective

    unqualified; absolute; entire; sheer

14. Mainadjective

    principal; chief; first in size, rank, importance, etc

15. Mainadjective

    important; necessary

16. Mainadjective

    very; extremely; as, main heavy

17. Etymology: [See Main, a.]

WikidataRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Main

   The Main is a river in Germany, with a length of 527 km the most significant right tributary of the Rhine.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Main

   mān, n. might: strength. [A.S. mægen.]

2. Main

   mān, adj. chief, principal: first in importance: leading.—n. the chief or principal part: the ocean or main sea: a continent or a larger island as compared with a smaller: a principal gas or water pipe in a street, or the largest conductor in a system of electric lights.—ns. Main′boom, the spar which extends the foot of a fore-and-aft mainsail; Main′deck, the principal deck of a ship—so in Main′brace, the brace attached to the mainyard (see Splice); Main′land, the principal or larger land, as opposed to a smaller portion.—adv. Main′ly, chiefly, principally.—ns. Main′mast, the principal mast of a ship, second from the prow; Main′sail, the principal sail generally attached to the mainmast; Main′sheet, the sheet or rope attached to the lower corner of the mainsail; Main′spring, the spring which gives motion to any piece of machinery, esp. that of a watch or a clock; Main′stay, the rope which stretches forward from the top of the mainmast: chief support; Main′top, a platform on the top of the mainmast; Main′topmast, the mast next above the lower mainmast; Main′topsail, the sail above the mainsail, in square-rigged vessels; Main′yard, the lower yard on the mainmast. [O. Fr. maine or magne, great—L. magnus, great.]

3. Main

   mān, n. a hand at dice: a match at cockfighting: a banker's shovel for coin. [O. Fr. main—L. manus, hand.]

Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. main

   A continent or mainland. Also, figuratively, the ocean.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. main

   A type of duct or system to convey a public utility or form of natural resources.

   The water main was very efficient and provided an excellent service to its customers.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on March 28, 2020  

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. MAIN

   What does MAIN stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the MAIN acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. MAIN

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Main is ranked #2824 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
   
   The Main surname appeared 12,776 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 would have the surname Main.
   
   91.9% or 11,746 total occurrences were White.
   2.7% or 356 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
   1.7% or 224 total occurrences were of two or more races.
   1.5% or 195 total occurrences were Asian.
   1.3% or 169 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.
   0.6% or 84 total occurrences were Black.

Matched Categories

1. • Body Of Water
   • Grammar
   • Hydrosphere

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'MAIN' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #342

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'MAIN' in Written Corpus Frequency: #635

3. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'MAIN' in Adjectives Frequency: #32

Anagrams for MAIN »

1. iman

2. mani

3. mina

4. NAMI

5. Amin

6. mian

7. naim

How to pronounce MAIN?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say MAIN in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of MAIN in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of MAIN in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of MAIN in a Sentence

1. Maysa Talerd:

   I think this might become the main income for me in the future because toy stores are contacting me to do wholesale.

2. Dirk Engels:

   Cutaneous leishmaniases doesn't kill, but it disfigures, so here we could do a lot more and the main problem here is also access to medicines -- access to affordable medicines.

3. Achim Anscheidt:

   This car is about our stylistic future, it's a vision of things to come. It illustrates the new Bugatti form language, and it shows very clearly from all main views of the car characteristic DNA elements that you can expect on future Bugatti models.

4. Rupert Wimmer:

   The main drivers are the rise of renewable energy in the electricity generation mix, and thus the necessity to take cover against volatile production and volatile power prices.

5. Sagir Badaru:

   The car threw another explosive in the midst of grocers outside the main bus station some hundreds of meters away, killing 12 people and wounding many.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=MAIN
2. ^ GCIDE
   https://gcide.gnu.org.ua/?q=MAIN
3. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Main
4. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=MAIN
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/MAIN
7. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=MAIN
8. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=MAIN
9. ^ Dictionary of Nautical Terms
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/26000/pg26000-images.html#:~:text=MAIN
10. ^ Surnames Frequency by Census Records
    https://www.census.gov/topics/population/genealogy/data/2010_surnames.html