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- Dictionarymainstay/ˈmeɪnsteɪ/
noun
- 1. a person or thing on which something else is based or depends: "farming is the mainstay of the rural economy" Similar
- 2. a stay that extends from the maintop to the foot of the foremast of a sailing ship.
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MAINSTAY definition: 1. the most important part of something, providing support for everything else: 2. the most…. Learn more.
: a crucial or key part of something. Fish is the mainstay of their diet. Tourism is a mainstay of the city's economy. The mainstay of treatment for chronic hives of unknown origin is antihistamine medications. Mayo Clinic Health Letter. b. : someone or something that is a principal or reliable support or resource.
noun [ C ] us / ˈmeɪnˌsteɪ / Add to word list Add to word list. the most important part of something, providing support for everything else: In the early 1900s, farming was the mainstay of the national economy.
1. Nautical. the stay that secures the mainmast forward. 2. a person or thing that acts as a chief support or part.
A mainstay is something that acts as a source of support for a community. If your hometown's economy depends on tourists visiting every summer, you could say that tourism is the mainstay of your town.
noun. /ˈmeɪnsteɪ/ [usually singular] mainstay (of something) a person or thing that is the most important part of something and enables it to exist or be successful. She is the mainstay of our theatre group. Cocoa is the country's economic mainstay. Love songs form the mainstay of his act. Topics Success c2. Take your English to the next level.
a person or thing that acts as a chief support or part: Coffee is the mainstay of the country's economy. Synonyms: prop, anchor, bulwark, pillar. Discover More. Word History and Origins. Origin of mainstay 1. First recorded in 1475–85; main 1 + stay 2. Discover More. Example Sentences.
Define mainstay. mainstay synonyms, mainstay pronunciation, mainstay translation, English dictionary definition of mainstay. n. 1. A chief support: Agriculture is a mainstay of the economy. 2. Nautical A stay running forward from the mainmast to the deck of a sailing vessel....
All you need to know about "MAINSTAY" in one place: definitions, pronunciations, synonyms, grammar insights, collocations, examples, and translations.
Mainstay definition: A strong rope that serves to steady and support the mainmast of a sailing vessel.
