main

main: main [mān]

n.

[ME < OE mægen, akin to ON magn: see MIGHT²]

1. physical strength; force; power: now only in with might and main, with all one's strength, with all one's strength

2. [< MAIN the adj.] the principal or most important part or point: usually in the phrase in the main, mostly, chiefly

3. a principal pipe, conduit, or line in a distribution system for water, gas, electricity, etc.

4. Old Poet. the high, or open, sea; ocean

5. Archaic the mainland: see SPANISH MAIN

6. Obs. any broad expanse

7. Naut. short for:Naut. short for

a) MAINMAST

b) MAINSAIL

adj.

[ME mayn < OE mægen- (in comp.) & ON meginn, strong]

1. Obs. strong; powerful

2. chief in size, extent, importance, etc.; principal; leading; specif., designating a large central unit on which subsidiaries or branches depend [the main post office]

3. of, near, or connected with the mainmast or mainsail

4. [Brit. Dial.] remarkable; considerable

5. Obs. designating a broad expanse of land, sea, or space

SYN.- CHIEF

——————

by main force or by main strength

by sheer force (or strength)

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Synonyms:

Chief, principal, leading, cardinal, capital, Ocean, great sea, high sea / Important, essential, necessary, requisite, indispensable, vital, Continent, mainland / Mighty, vast, huge, enormous, Main conduit, main pipe, main duct, main channel / Sheer, pure, directly applied, Principal point / Absolute, mere, direct, entire, Force, power, strength, might, violent effort / The gross, the bulk, the greater part, majority / Hamper, large basket

Look at other dictionaries:

Main — Karte des Mainverlaufs Daten Gewässerkennzahl … Deutsch Wikipedia
Main FM — Allgemeine Informationen Empfang früher: analog terrestrisch, Kabel … Deutsch Wikipedia
Main — (m[=a]n), a. [From {Main} strength, possibly influenced by OF. maine, magne, great, L. magnus. Cf. {Magnate}.] 1. Very or extremely strong. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] That current with main fury ran. Daniel. [1913 Webster] 2. Vast; huge. [Obs.] The… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Main — Main, n. [AS. m[ae]gen strength, power, force; akin to OHG. magan, Icel. megin, and to E. may, v. [root]103. See {May}, v.] 1. Strength; force; might; violent effort. [Obs., except in certain phrases.] [1913 Webster] There were in this battle of… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
main — (m[=a]n), n. [F. main hand, L. manus. See {Manual}.] 1. A hand or match at dice. Prior. Thackeray. [1913 Webster] 2. A stake played for at dice. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. The largest throw in a match at dice; a throw at dice within given… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Main — Main, adv. [See {Main}, a.] Very; extremely; as, main heavy. I m main dry. Foote. [Obs. or Low] [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
MAIN — s. f. Partie du corps humain, qui est à l extrémité du bras, qui s étend depuis le poignet jusqu au bout des doigts, et que sa conformation rend propre à toute sorte d actions et d ouvrages. La main droite. La main gauche. Le creux, le dedans, la … Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 7eme edition (1835)
MAIN — n. f. Partie du corps humain qui est à l’extrémité du bras, qui s’étend depuis le poignet jusqu’au bout des doigts, qui sert à la préhension, qui est le principal organe du toucher et que sa conformation rend propre à toute sorte d’actions et… … Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 8eme edition (1935)
Main — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Main (homonymie). Main Vue des deux faces d une main gauche Latin … Wikipédia en Français
MAIN FM — Senderlogo Allgemeine Informationen Empfang: analog terrestrisch, Kabel, Liv … Deutsch Wikipedia
Main — For the Wikipedia website front page, see Main Page. For the Wikipedia main namespace, see Help:Namespace. Main may refer to: Main (river), a major river and tributary of the Rhine in Germany Main River (Chukotka), a river in Far Eastern Siberia… … Wikipedia

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