main

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♦♦♦ main /m'eɪn/ (mains)
1 [ADJ] det ADJ
The main thing is the most important one of several similar things in a particular situation.
...one of the main tourist areas of Amsterdam...
My main concern now is to protect the children...
What are the main differences and similarities between them?
= chief
2 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
If you say that something is true in the main, you mean that it is generally true, although there may be exceptions.
Tourists are, in the main, sympathetic people...
= on the whole
3 [N-COUNT] usu pl, usu with supp
The mains are the pipes which supply gas or water to buildings, or which take sewage away from them.
...the water supply from the mains...
The capital has been without mains water since Wednesday night.
4 [N-PLURAL] usu the N
The mains are the wires which supply electricity to buildings, or the place where the wires end inside the building. (mainly BRIT)
...amplifiers which plug into the mains...main clause (main clauses)
[N-COUNT]
A main clause is a clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence. Compare subordinate clause.main drag
[N-SING] the N
The main drag in a town or city is its main street. (mainly AM INFORMAL)main road (main roads)
[N-COUNT]
A main road is an important road that leads from one town or city to another.
Webb turned off the main road and drove round to the car park.wa|ter main (water mains)
[N-COUNT]
A water main is a very large underground pipe used for supplying water to houses and factories.

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