/ ˈprɪnsəpl; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
[ only before noun ] most important; main :
The principal reason for this omission is lack of time.
New roads will link the principal cities of the area.
➡ note at main
■ noun
1.
( BrE ) the person who is in charge of a college or a university :
Peter Brown, principal of St John's college
—see also dean
2.
( NAmE ) = head teacher :
Principal Ray Smith
3.
[ usually sing. ] ( finance ) an amount of money that you lend to sb or invest to earn interest
4.
the person who has the most important part in a play, an opera , etc.
5.
( technical ) a person that you are representing, especially in business or law
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : via Old French from Latin principalis first, original, from princeps , princip- first, chief.