Main Meɪn Careful Crossing Road Thing Calm Adjective

• be careful crossing the main road.
• the main course (= of a meal)
• we have our main meal at lunchtime.
• reception is in the main building.

main

1. being the largest or most important of its kind
• Be careful crossing the main road.
• the main course (= of a meal)
• We have our main meal at lunchtime.
• Reception is in the main building.
• Poor housing and unemployment are the main problems.
• The main thing is to stay calm.
• Be careful crossing the main road.
• The main thing is to remain calm.
• He played a major role in setting up the system.
• Our major concern here is combatting poverty.
• He was a key figure in the campaign.
• Speed is key at this point.
• The central issue is that of widespread racism.
• The principal reason for this omission is lack of time.
• The key/central issue here is…
• Unemployment was the chief cause of poverty.
• My prime concern is to protect my property.
2. with the hope of using a particular situation in order to gain some advantage for yourself

Extra Examples

• Please use the main entrance.
• The main course was roast lamb.
• The main thing is to remain calm.

Word Origin

• Middle English: from Old English mægen ‘physical force’, reinforced by Old Norse meginn, megn ‘strong, powerful’, both from a Germanic base meaning ‘have power’.