The Collaborative International Dictionary
Main \Main\ (m[=a]n), a. [From Main strength, possibly influenced by OF. maine, magne, great, L. magnus. Cf. Magnate.]
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Very or extremely strong. [Obs.]
That current with main fury ran.
--Daniel. Vast; huge. [Obs.] ``The main abyss.''
--Milton.Unqualified; absolute; entire; sheer. [Obs.] ``It's a man untruth.''
--Sir W. Scott.-
Principal; chief; first in size, rank, importance, etc.; as, the main reason to go; the main proponent.
Our main interest is to be happy as we can.
--Tillotson. -
Important; necessary. [Obs.] That which thou aright Believest so main to our success, I bring. --Milton. By main force, by mere force or sheer force; by violent effort; as, to subdue insurrection by main force. That Maine which by main force Warwick did win. --Shak. By main strength, by sheer strength; as, to lift a heavy weight by main strength. Main beam (Steam Engine), working beam. Main boom (Naut.), the boom which extends the foot of the mainsail in a fore and aft vessel. Main brace.
(Mech.) The brace which resists the chief strain. Cf. Counter brace.
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(Naut.) The brace attached to the main yard.
Main center (Steam Engine), a shaft upon which a working beam or side lever swings.
Main chance. See under Chance.
Main couple (Arch.), the principal truss in a roof.
Main deck (Naut.), the deck next below the spar deck; the principal deck.
Main keel (Naut.), the principal or true keel of a vessel, as distinguished from the false keel.
Syn: Principal; chief; leading; cardinal; capital.
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context obsolete English) A venture which stands the best likelihood of success; a risk; fortune (of a person, country etc.). (16th-18th c.) 2 One's primary interest in life; livelihood, especially an opportunity to benefit oneself. (from 16th c.)
Usage examples of "main chance".
If you can't see a main chance like this you oughtn't to be running the operation, and I'd better bring in somebody who can.
They want to protect the girl, and shield her, and shower benefits upon her, and nine times out of ten the girl is very well able to look after herself and has a good eye to the main chance.
Knowing their main chance was to overwhelm their quarry, they crashed through the walls of branches from both sides of the island at once, screaming at the tops of their lungs and firing their weapons.
She smiled often, laughed rarely, and was forever alert and watchful for the main chance.
We'll just keep to the sidelines, fight when we have to and keep our eyes open for the main chance.