Definition of main adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

main

adjective

OPAL W OPAL S

/meɪn/

[only before noun]Idioms

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being the largest or most important of its kind
- We have our main meal at lunchtime.
- Reception is in the main building.
- Poor housing and unemployment are the main problems.
- Loss of habitat is the main reason for the bird's decline.
- The main thing is to stay calm.
Synonyms main
mainmajor ▪ key ▪ central ▪ principal ▪ chief ▪ primeThese words all describe somebody/something that is the largest or most important of its kind.
main [only before noun] largest or most important:
Be careful crossing the main road.
The main thing is to remain calm.
major [usually before noun] very large or important:
He played a major role in setting up the system.
When major is used with the or my/your/his/her/our/their it means ‘the largest or most important’: Our major concern here is combating poverty. In this meaning it is only used to talk about ideas or worries that people have, not physical things, and it is also more formal than main: Be careful crossing the major road. • The major thing is to remain calm. key [usually before noun] most important; essential:
He was a key figure in the campaign.
Key is used most frequently in business and political contexts. It can be used to talk about ideas, or the part that somebody plays in a situation, but not physical things. It is slightly more informal than major, especially when used after a noun and linking verb: Speed is key at this point. central (rather formal) most important:
The central issue is that of widespread racism.
Central is used in a similar way to key, but is more formal. It is most frequently used in the phrase something is central to something else. principal [only before noun] (rather formal) most important:
The principal reason for this omission is lack of time.
Principal is mostly used for statements of fact about which there can be no argument. To state an opinion, or to try to persuade somebody of the facts as you see them, it is more usual to use key or central: The key/central issue here is… chief [only before noun] (rather formal) most important:
Unemployment was the chief cause of poverty.
prime [only before noun] (rather formal) most important; to be considered first:
My prime concern is to protect my property.
Patterns
- a/the main/major/key/central/principal/chief/prime aim/concern
- a/the main/major/principal road/town/city
- the main/key thing is to…
- to be of major/key/central/prime importance
Extra Examples
- Please use the main entrance.
- Our main concern is safety.
- There were three main political parties in the country.
- The main character in this movie is Lucky, an Irish setter.
- Try to summarize the main points of your argument.
- The main event is preceded by four bouts, including a five-round title fight.
Topics Cooking and eatinga1
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old English mægen ‘physical force’, reinforced by Old Norse meginn, megn ‘strong, powerful’, both from a Germanic base meaning ‘have power’.

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Idioms

with an eye for/on/to the main chance

(British English, usually disapproving) with the hope of using a particular situation in order to gain some advantage for yourself

See main in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee main in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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perspective

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