maine
B1Neutral (Used across formal and informal contexts).
Definition
Meaning
The primary, most important, or largest element of something.
1) A principal pipe or duct carrying water, gas, electricity, etc.; 2) In nautical terms, the open ocean; 3) In video gaming, the primary player character in a story.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Main" implies centrality and essential function. As an adjective, it contrasts with "secondary," "minor," or "auxiliary." The plural "mains" often refers to public utility supplies or the principal meal courses.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The plural noun "the mains" is slightly more common in UK English for electricity supply ("plug it into the mains") and gas. US English may prefer "main line" or simply "line."
Connotations
Largely identical. "Main Street" has a cultural connotation of traditional, small-town America.
Frequency
Comparably high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
ADJ + N (the main problem)N + of + N (the main of the argument)BE + ADJ (This point is main).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In the main (for the most part)”
- “Main squeeze (slang: one's romantic partner or boss)”
- “Have an eye to the main chance (to be opportunist).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to core activities or revenue streams (e.g., 'Our main line of business is software').
Academic
Used to denote central arguments, theories, or findings (e.g., 'The main thesis of the paper...').
Everyday
Commonly describes most important things (e.g., 'What's the main point?', 'Turn off the mains before repairing').
Technical
In engineering/utilities: a large pipe or cable distributing a substance or signal.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The main road to the village is often congested.
- Please state your main argument concisely.
American English
- The main street was decorated for the parade.
- Her main concern was the project deadline.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My main hobby is football.
- Our hotel is on the main street.
- The main character in the story is a boy.
- The main reason for his success was hard work.
- Be careful when crossing the main road.
- Let's discuss the main points of the plan.
- While there were other factors, the main cause of the recession was clear.
- The water main burst, flooding several streets.
- The author's main contention is controversial but well-argued.
- She distilled the complex report down to its main thrust.
- The mains voltage in the UK is 230V, whereas in the US it's 120V.
- His dissertation's main weakness lies in its methodological assumptions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a train on a MAIN line – it's the most important route, not a small branch.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS SIZE/STRENGTH (The main thing is 'bigger' or 'stronger' than others). CENTRALITY IS FOUNDATION (The main argument supports the structure).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation from Russian 'главный' into 'head' or 'capital' (глава, столица). 'Main' is correct. Do not confuse with 'only' or 'sole' (единственный).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'main of' incorrectly (e.g., 'This is main of the issues' – correct: 'This is the main issue' or 'This is the main one of the issues'). Overusing 'main' where 'only' or 'major' is more precise.
Practice
Quiz
In the phrase 'the main of her argument,' which word is most synonymous with 'main'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, commonly in plural form 'mains' referring to utility supplies (gas mains, water mains) or as 'main' in nautical contexts ('the Spanish Main').
'Main' suggests the single most important element, while 'major' often implies one of several large/important elements. A company has one main office but may have several major offices.
No. 'Main' is generally considered a non-gradable adjective; something is either the main thing or it isn't. Use 'more central,' 'more important,' or 'more predominant' for comparisons.
It's an idiom meaning 'for the most part' or 'on the whole' (e.g., 'The proposals were, in the main, well received.').