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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.
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.
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. mainstay. / ˈmeɪnˌsteɪ / noun. nautical the forestay that braces the mainmast. a chief support. Discover More. Word History and Origins. Origin of mainstay 1. First recorded in 1475–85; main 1 + stay 2.
noun. us / ˈmeɪn.steɪ / uk / ˈmeɪn.steɪ / the mainstay of something. Add to word list. the most important part of something, providing support for everything else: Cattle farming is the mainstay of the country's economy. The white blouse will be the mainstay of your wardrobe this summer. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases.
If you describe something as the mainstay of a particular thing, you mean that it is the most basic part of it. Fish and rice were the mainstays of the country's diet. American English : mainstay / ˈmeɪnsteɪ /
mainstay (of something) a person or thing that is the most important part of something and enables it to exist or be successful. He is the mainstay of our theatre group. Cocoa is the country's economic mainstay. Love songs form the mainstay of his act.
Jun 2, 2024 · mainstay (plural mainstays) A chief support . Agriculture is the mainstay of this country’s economy. Someone or something that can be depended on to make a regular contribution . ( nautical) A stabilising rope from high on the mainmast to the base of the foremast.
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....
MAINSTAY definition: the most important thing or activity: . Learn more.
