main

Definition

n. the largest or most important pipe in a system that carries water, gas, or electricity to a building. If it breaks, the whole house or street might lose its supply.

n. the principal pipe or conduit in a system for conveying water, gas, or electricity to a series of buildings or throughout a specific structure.

simple

“The water main burst and flooded the entire street.”

contextual

“Construction workers accidentally hit a gas main while digging the foundation for the new apartment complex.”

complex

“Engineers recommended replacing the Victorian-era water mains with modern materials to prevent the frequent pressure drops that have plagued the downtown district for years.”

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “main” in context.

01. appreciation main 02. arise main 03. main determinant 04. merit main

Often used in the plural ('the mains') when referring to the general supply system of a house.

From Latin Moenis.

From an Mhaing, possibly from Old Irish mang (“fawn”), which is said to be related to Proto-Celtic makʷos (“son”); also compare Proto-Germanic maguz.

* As a Scottish surname, reduced from the North Germanic name Magnus. Also from the adjective main. As a Scottish, English, French and Norman surname, from personal names derived from Proto-West Germanic magan (“to be able”), similar to Mein. * As a Scottish, English and Norman surname, from the French province of Maine. Compare Mansell. * As a Scottish, English, and Norman surname, from the Anglo-Norman adjective maine (“great, large”), from Old French magne. * As a Scottish, English, Norman and French surname, from the noun main (“hand”).

From main.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

VERB

mainline(C2)

NOUN

Main(A1)

ADVERB