English Words Starting With M

• mainspring

  nounC1
  /ˈmeɪnsprɪŋ/The principal spring in a mechanical watch or clock, which provides the motive power for its operation by unwinding.
• mainstay

  nounC1
  /ˈmeɪn.steɪ/The chief support or most important part of something; a person or thing on which something else is largely based.
• mainstream

  adjectivenounverb-intransitiveverb-transitiveC1
  /ˈmeɪn.striːm/The prevailing or dominant trend, style, practice, or set of ideas accepted by the majority of people in a society or group.
• mainstream corporation tax

  nounC2
  /ˈmeɪn.striːm ˌkɔː.pəˈreɪ.ʃən tæks/The standard rate of tax levied by the government on the taxable profits of a company.
• mainstream media

  nounB2
  /ˌmeɪn.striːm ˈmiː.di.ə/The established mass media institutions (e.g., television networks, major newspapers, radio stations) that reach and influence a large, general audience.
• mainstreamer

  nounC2
  /ˈmeɪn.striː.mə(r)/A person who conforms to or is part of the dominant, conventional group in society.
• mainstreaming

  nounC1
  /ˈmeɪn.striː.mɪŋ/The act of integrating a person or group (often those with special needs or from a minority) into the ordinary or dominant culture, system, or environment.
• mainstreeting

  nounVery Low
  /ˈmeɪnstriːtɪŋ/The action or practice of canvassing or campaigning for votes in the main street of a town or area, often by meeting and talking to the public in a retail setting.
• maintain

  verbverb-transitiveB2
  /meɪnˈteɪn/To keep something in existence, good condition, or operation; to continue to have or support.
• maintained school

  nounC1
  /meɪnˈteɪnd skuːl/A state-funded school in England that is overseen by a local authority.
• maintainor

  nounVery Low / Archaic
  /meɪnˈteɪnə/A person or entity legally responsible for maintaining or supporting something, especially in feudal or historical legal contexts; an archaic term for one who maintains a cause or supports a person in a lawsuit.
• maintenance

  adjectivenounB2
  /ˈmeɪntənəns/The process of keeping something in good working condition or existing state.
• maintenance and cure

  nounC2
  /ˈmeɪntənəns ənd ˈkjʊə(r)/A legal doctrine in admiralty law requiring a shipowner to provide basic support (maintenance) and medical care (cure) to a seaman who becomes injured or falls ill while in the service of the ship.
• maintenance of membership

  nounC2
  /ˈmeɪn.tə.nəns əv ˈmem.bə.ʃɪp/A condition in labor agreements where employees who are union members at the time of the contract must remain members for the duration of the agreement, but new employees are not required to join.
• maintenon

  nounVery Low (C2+)
  /ˈmæ̃t(ə)nɒ̃/A proper noun historically referring to Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon (1635-1719), the second wife of King Louis XIV of France.
• maintop

  nounC2
  /ˈmeɪn.tɒp/A platform or structure at the head of the lower section of the mainmast on a sailing ship.
• maintopsail

  nounVery Low
  /ˌmeɪnˈtɒp.seɪl/The sail set on the main-topmast, immediately above the mainsail of a square-rigged sailing ship.
• mainz

  nounC2
  /maɪnts/The proper noun referring to a major German city on the Rhine River, known for its cathedral, its historical role as the seat of an Archbishop-Elector, and for Johannes Gutenberg's development of the printing press there.
• mainz psalter

  nounVery Low (C2)
  /ˌmaɪnts ˈsɔːltə/A specific, historically significant printed edition of the Book of Psalms, produced in Mainz, Germany.
• maiolica

  nounC2
  /ˌmɑːjˈɒlɪkə/A type of fine, glazed earthenware pottery, decorated with intricate, colourful patterns, typically with an opaque white tin glaze.

Showing 781–800 of 8594 words.