adj 主(首，最重)要的 (first or foremost in rank， degree， importance， etc; chief; main) [作attrib]： the～aim of the policy/food of the Chinese 该政策的首要目的/中国人的主要食物;sb's～source of income 某人的主要收入来源;the～members of the government 政府的主要成员;the～character in the story 故事中的主要人物;the～reason for doing sth 做某事的主要原因;the～beneficiaries of a will 遗嘱的主要受益人;Shipbuilding is one of Britain's～industries. 造船是英国的重要工业之一。Drinking is a～cause of highway deaths. 饮酒是造成公路上死亡事故的主要原因。The Danube is one of the～rivers of Europe. 多瑙河是欧洲的主要河流之一。～parts (英语)动词的主要变化形式;〖同〗chief，leading，foremost，main，primary，first; 〖反〗minor，weakest，inconsiderable，secondary;

n (1)(首)长，负责人;校(院)长 ((title of the) person who holds a leading position in an organization， esp in certain schools and colleges) [C]： the～of a college 学院的院长;the school～学校的校长;the～'s office 校长办公室;〖同〗headmaster，master;

(2)主要演员，主角(leading actor， singer or dancer in a play， an opera， etc) [C]： The～s were gathered on stage for rehearsal. 主要演员们聚集在舞台上排演。～boy 哑剧里的男主角(一般由女子担任);〖同〗star;

(3)本金 (money lent or invested on which interest is paid) [C， 通常sing]： a～of $500 500美元的本金;repay～and interest 偿还本金和利息;〖同〗fund，money;

(4)委托人，本人(person who authorizes another， as an agent， to represent him) [C]： I must consult my～. 我必须与我的委托人商量。

(5)主犯(以别于协从犯) (person directly concerned in the breaking of a law (as opposed to someone who helps him break it)) [C];

→′principally adv 主要地