main
gb/mˈeɪn/ us/mˈeɪn/
A2
English
~ 500
fő, elsődleges, legfontosabb, fővezeték, gerincvezeték, nyílt tenger
A2
1
Usage pattern:
the main [reason/idea/road/etc.]
The main reason I called you is to invite you to dinner.
A fő ok, amiért hívtalak, az, hogy meghívjalak vacsorára.
Water is the main ingredient in this soup.
Ebben a levesben a víz a fő összetevő.
The main road into town is closed for repairs.
Her main concern is the safety of the children.
The main point of the meeting was to discuss budget cuts.
Learner examples
The main road is very busy.
A főút nagyon forgalmas.
My main hobby is reading books.
A fő hobbim a könyvolvasás.
The main color in the picture is blue.
The main problem is money.
He is the main actor in the movie.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'main' with 'mean' because they sound similar, but 'mean' has a completely different meaning.
Meaning
Most important or central
Collocations
main reason
|main idea
|main road
|main character
|main point
Synonyms
primary (Slightly more formal; often used in academic or official contexts.)
|
chief (Slightly more formal or old-fashioned; often used in titles or hierarchical contexts.)
Antonyms
minor (Indicates something of less importance or significance.)
|
secondary (Suggests something that is less important than the primary one.)
Themes
communication
|organization
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Most important or biggest in importance.
Being the most important, central, or principal part of something.
NOUN
B1
2
fővezeték
B2
The water main burst during the night, flooding the street.
Éjszaka eltört a vízfővezeték, és elöntötte a víz az utcát.
Workers are repairing the gas main on Elm Street.
Munkások javítják a gázfővezetéket az Elm Streeten.
An electricity main runs under this part of the city.
Learner examples
The water main is broken.
Eltört a vízfővezeték.
They are fixing the gas main.
Javítják a gázfővezetéket.
The electricity main is under the road.
Meaning
Large supply pipe or cable
Collocations
water main
|gas main
|electricity main
Synonyms
pipeline (More general; can be used for various transportation systems, not just utilities.)
Themes
infrastructure
|technology
|housing
Definition
A big pipe or cable that brings water, gas, or power to a place.
A principal pipe, cable, or conduit that carries water, gas, electricity, etc., to buildings or areas.
NOUN
C1
3
nyílt tenger
B1
Sailors feared storms when out on the main.
A tengerészek féltek a viharoktól, amikor kint voltak a nyílt tengeren.
They spent weeks navigating the main before reaching land.
Hetekig hajóztak a nyílt tengeren, mielőtt szárazföldet értek.
The ship disappeared into the mist over the main.
Learner examples
The ship is out on the main.
A hajó kint van a nyílt tengeren.
They travel across the main to another country.
Átkelnek a nyílt tengeren egy másik országba.
We see no land when we are on the main.
Meaning
Open sea far from land
Collocations
out on the main
Synonyms
open sea (Neutral and clear; common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
shore (Refers to land along the edge of a sea or ocean.)
Themes
geography
|travel
|nature
Definition
The part of the sea that is far from land.
The open sea, especially far from land; the high seas.
Grammar
Dictionary form
main
IPA
GB/mˈeɪn/
US/mˈeɪn/
Syllables & stress
main (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (main)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: main
Noun
- Base: main
- Plural: mains
Word family
Forms
mains
noun
Core family
mainly
adverb A2
Related words
mainstream
adjective B2
mainland
noun B1
Expressions
in the main
1/ˈɪn ðə mˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
formal
Generally true overall
Mostly; in general.
Examples
- In the main, people agreed with the decision.
- The plan worked well, in the main.
main course
1/mˈeɪn kˈɔɹs/
fixed phrase
Primary dish in a meal
The biggest or most important dish in a meal.
Examples
- For my main course, I ordered grilled salmon.
- The steak was served as the main course after a light soup.
main squeeze
1/mˈeɪn skwˈiz/
idiom
informal
Romantic partner (informal)
Someone's boyfriend or girlfriend; romantic partner.
Examples
- He introduced me to his main squeeze at the party.
- She's been his main squeeze for over a year.