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