main : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: main	by the DICT Development Group
5 results for main
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
main adj most important element; "the chief aim of living"; "the main doors were of solid glass"; "the principal rivers of America"; "the principal example"; "policemen were primary targets"; "the master bedroom"; "a master switch" Synonym(s): chief(a), main(a), primary(a), principal(a), master(a) (of a clause) capable of standing syntactically alone as a complete sentence; "the main (or independent) clause in a complex sentence has at least a subject and a verb" Synonym(s): independent, main(a) Antonym(s): dependent, subordinate of force; of the greatest possible intensity; "by main strength" n any very large body of (salt) water Synonym(s): main, briny a principal pipe in a system that distributes water or gas or electricity or that collects sewage
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Main \Main\, n. [F. main hand, L. manus. See {Manual}.] 1. A hand or match at dice. --Prior. Thackeray. 2. A stake played for at dice. [Obs.] --Shak. 3. The largest throw in a match at dice; a throw at dice within given limits, as in the game of hazard. 4. A match at cockfighting. [bd]My lord would ride twenty miles . . . to see a main fought.[b8] --Thackeray. 5. A main-hamper. [Obs.] --Ainsworth.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Main \Main\, n. [AS. m[91]gen strength, power, force; akin to OHG. magan, Icel. megin, and to E. may, v. [?]. See {May}, v.] 1. Strength; force; might; violent effort. [Obs., except in certain phrases.] There were in this battle of most might and main. --R. of Gl. He 'gan advance, With huge force, and with importable main. --Spenser. 2. The chief or principal part; the main or most important thing. [Obs., except in special uses.] Resolved to rest upon the title of Lancaster as the main, and to use the other two . . . but as supporters. --Bacon. 3. Specifically: (a) The great sea, as distinguished from an arm, bay, etc.; the high sea; the ocean. [bd]Struggling in the main.[b8] --Dryden. (b) The continent, as distinguished from an island; the mainland. [bd]Invaded the main of Spain.[b8] --Bacon. (c) principal duct or pipe, as distinguished from lesser ones; esp. (Engin.), a principal pipe leading to or from a reservoir; as, a fire main. {Forcing main}, the delivery pipe of a pump. {For the main}, [or] {In the main}, for the most part; in the greatest part. {With might and main}, [or] {With all one's might and main}, with all one's strength; with violent effort. With might and main they chased the murderous fox. --Dryden.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Main \Main\, a. [From {Main} strength, possibly influenced by OF. maine, magne, great, L. magnus. Cf. {Magnate}.] 1. Very or extremely strong. [Obs.] That current with main fury ran. --Daniel. 2. Vast; huge. [Obs.] [bd]The main abyss.[b8] --Milton. 3. Unqualified; absolute; entire; sheer. [Obs.] [bd]It's a man untruth.[b8] --Sir W. Scott. 4. Principal; chief; first in size, rank, importance, etc. Our main interest is to be happy as we can. --Tillotson. 5. Important; necessary. [Obs.] That which thou aright Believest so main to our success, I bring. --Milton. {By main force}, by mere force or sheer force; by violent effort; as, to subdue insurrection by main force. That Maine which by main force Warwick did win. --Shak. {By main strength}, by sheer strength; as, to lift a heavy weight by main strength. {Main beam} (Steam Engine), working beam. {Main boom} (Naut.), the boom which extends the foot of the mainsail in a fore and aft vessel. {Main brace}. (a) (Mech.) The brace which resists the chief strain. Cf. {Counter brace}. (b) (Naut.) The brace attached to the main yard. {Main center} (Steam Engine), a shaft upon which a working beam or side lever swings. {Main chance}. See under {Chance}. {Main couple} (Arch.), the principal truss in a roof. {Main deck} (Naut.), the deck next below the spar deck; the principal deck. {Main keel} (Naut.), the principal or true keel of a vessel, as distinguished from the false keel. Syn: Principal; chief; leading; cardinal; capital.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Main \Main\, adv. [See {Main}, a.] Very; extremely; as, main heavy. [bd]I'm main dry.[b8] --Foote. [Obs. or Low]