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 [2] — Main, lat. Moenus, bedeutendster r. Nebenfluß des Rheins, entsteht unterhalb Kulmbach aus dem Weißen und dem Rotten M., von denen ersterer auf dem Fichtelgebirge am Ostabhange des Ochsenkopfes, letzterer zwischen Fichtelgebirge und Fränk. Jura… … Kleines Konversations-Lexikon
Main — (lat. Moenus), 1) deutscher Nebenfluß des Rheins auf dessen rechten Ufer; entspringt im baierischen Kreise Oberfranken aus zwei Quellenflüssen, dem Weißen M., welcher zwischen dem Farmleiten u. dem Ochsenkopf entspringt u. bei Kulmbach… … Pierer's Universal-Lexikon
Main [1] — Main (franz., spr. mäng), Hand; im Papierhandel soviel wie Buch = 1/20 rame oder Ries … Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon
Main [2] — Main (bei den Römern Moenus, im Nibelungenlied Möna), rechter Nebenfluß des Rheins, entsteht aus zwei Quellflüssen, dem Weißen und dem Roten M. Der Weiße M. entspringt im Fichtelgebirge, am Ochsenkopf, 894 m ü. M., der Rote M. in einer Höhe von… … Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon
Main — (frz., spr. mäng), Hand; M. forte (spr. fort), starke Hand, obrigkeitliche Gewalt; auch bewaffnete Mannschaft; M. morte (spr. mort), Tote Hand (s.d.) … Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

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