English Dictionary

main

/meɪn/

noun

That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the bulk, the greater part, gross.

The main goal of the project is to increase sales.

意味（1）

That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the bulk, the greater part, gross.

意味（2）

(video games) The primary character that one plays in a video game in which one can play more than one character.

My WoW main has reached level cap and I’m on my way getting my first alt there as well.

意味（3）

A large cable or pipe providing utility service to an area or a building, such as a water main or electric main.

[T]he Contract with the Pipe-water Pavior was, as he recollects, to keep the Pavement in Repair for ſix Weeks; did oblige the Contractor to repair many Places in that ſix Weeks; there was a Part of the new Main failed in Dame-ſtreet; was obliged to take up three or four Pieces in Length, in conſequence of a Sewer being made there, which undermined the Main, and put it out of its Place; […]

意味（4）

(informal) Short for main course (“the principal dish of a meal”).

I had scampi and chips for my main and a slice of cheesecake for dessert.

意味（5）

(now poetic) The high seas.

Who ſhall him rew, that ſwimming in the maine, / Will die for thriſt, and water doth refuſe? / Refuſe ſuch fruitleſſe toile, and preſent pleaſures chuſe.

意味（6）

(now archaic, US dialectal) The mainland.

In the year that followed of 1589, we gave the Spaniards no breath, but turned challengers, invaded the main of Spain. In which enterprize, although we failed of our end, which was to ſettle Don Antonio in the kingdom of Portugal, yet a man ſhall hardly meet with an action that doth better reveal the great ſecret of the power of Spain: […]

意味（7）

(nautical) Short for mainsail.

意味（8）

(obsolete, except in might and main) Force, power, strength, violent effort.

For with ſuch puiſſance and impetuous maine / Thoſe Champions broke on them, that forſt the fly, / Like ſcattered Sheepe, whenas the Shepherds ſwaine / A Lyon and a Tigre doth eſpye, / With greedy pace forth ruſhing from the foreſt nye.