main

main¹ W1S1 [meın] adj [only before noun]

[: Old English; Origin: mAgen-, from mAgen 'strength']

1.) bigger or more important than all other things, ideas etc of the same kind

▪ The main reason for living in Spain is the weather.

▪ What do you consider to be the main problem?

▪ Our main concern is that the children are safe.

▪ a summary of the main points of the agreement

▪ the main aim of the meeting

▪ I'll meet you outside the main entrance.

▪ the main bedroom

2.) the main thing

spoken used to say what is the most important thing in a situation

▪ As long as you're not hurt, that's the main thing.

▪ The main thing is not to panic.

→an eye for/on/to the main chance at ↑eye¹ (22)

main ²

main² n

1.)

a large pipe or wire carrying the public supply of water, electricity, or gas

▪ The report found that many of Yorkshire's water mains needed replacing.

▪ a burst gas main

2.) BrE a) the mains

the place on a wall where you can connect something to a supply of electricity

▪ You can run the torch off batteries or plug it into the mains.

at the mains

▪ Make sure that the television is turned off at the mains.

b) mains gas/water/electricity

gas, water, or electricity supplied to a building through a pipe or wire

▪ The heater will run off mains gas or bottled gas.

3.) in the main

mostly

▪ Their job in the main consisted of cleaning and maintaining the building.