main

noun

(not in generic modern use) That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the bulk, the greater part, gross.

(video games) The primary character that one plays in a video game in which one can play more than one character.

(Internet slang) A main account.

A large cable or pipe providing utility service to an area or a building, such as a water main or electric main.

A banker's shovel for coins.

A surname.

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

A river in Northern Ireland, flowing into Lough Neagh.

(informal) Ellipsis of main course (“the principal dish of a meal”). [The main serving or dish of a meal, usually cooked.]

(nautical) Ellipsis of mainsail. [(nautical) The largest (or only) sail on a sailing vessel.]

Ellipsis of Main Street (“main street”), a central street of a community. [The generic street name (and often the official name) of the primary retail street of a village, town, or small city in the United States, Canada, Ireland, some parts of Scotland and also in some countries in central Europe.]

Ellipsis of Main Street, a street named "Main Street". [The generic street name (and often the official name) of the primary retail street of a village, town, or small city in the United States, Canada, Ireland, some parts of Scotland and also in some countries in central Europe.]

(now poetic) The high seas.

(now archaic, US dialectal) The mainland.

(obsolete, except in might and main) Force, power, strength, violent effort.

(obsolete, gaming) A hand or match in a game of dice.

(obsolete, gaming) The largest throw in a match at dice; in the game of hazard, a number from one to nine called out by a person before the dice are thrown.

(obsolete, gaming) A stake played for at dice.

(obsolete, gaming, sports) A sporting contest or match, especially a cockfighting match.

(obsolete, rare) A basket for gathering grapes.

verb

(transitive, gaming) To mainly play a specific character or side, or with specific equipment, during a game.

(transitive, slang) Ellipsis of mainline (“to inject (a drug) directly into a vein”). [(slang) To inject (a drug) directly into a vein.]

(obsolete) To convert (a road) into a main or primary road.

adjective

Of chief or leading importance; prime, principal.

Chief, most important, or principal in extent, size, or strength; consisting of the largest part.

(nautical) Belonging to or connected with the principal mast in a vessel.

(dialectal) Big; angry.

(archaic, of force, strength, etc.) Full, sheer, undivided.

(obsolete) Great in size or degree; important, powerful, strong, vast.

adverb

(British, dialectal) Exceedingly, extremely, greatly, mightily, very, very much.

Synonyms for main

primaryadj biggestadj majoradj principaladj largestadj foremostadj predominantadj centraladj primaladj overridingadj fundamentaladj topmostadj mainlyadv primeadj leadingn

Words related to main

primogenial secondaryadj keyadj secondarinessn importantadj overarchingv pivotaladj principallyadv coren maintop mainstayn

Synonyms & related words for main

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Words related to main

Explore words related to main — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include primogenial, secondary, key, secondariness, important, overarching, pivotal, principally. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for main

Common synonyms for main include primary, biggest, major, principal, largest, foremost, predominant, central — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.