Mainline

//ˈmeɪnˌlaɪn// adj, noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Normal, principal or standard. not-comparable

    "At a time when mainline denominations are engaged in massive closures of small rural churches, independent charismatics are strategically helping to rechurch rural Canada."

  2. 2
    Of or pertaining to the principal route or line of a railway. not-comparable
  3. 3
    Of or pertaining to a surface railway as distinct from an underground, elevated or light rail one. not-comparable
  4. 4
    Of a sequence of opening moves: being part of a main line ("a standard sequence of opening moves considered to be best play"). not-comparable

    "After 3 e5 the Czech Benoni Defense is created. Unlike the mainline 3 e6, which aims for tactical counterplay in the center, Black aims for solidity there. He will choose later what flank to attack on."

Noun
  1. 1
    An airline's main operating unit, as opposed to codeshares or regional subsidiaries.
  2. 2
    The principal route or line of a railway.
  3. 3
    In longline fishing the central line to which the branch lines with baits are attached.
  4. 4
    The pipeline carrying wastewater to the public drains or a septic tank.

    "Many plumbers will tell you they don't go off property since that is the local water company's responsibility. Most local water companies would prefer that, if a line is snaked, it is snaked all the way to the mainline connection."

  5. 5
    A principal vein into which a drug can be injected. slang

    "I'm searching for my mainline / I said I couldn't hit it sideways"

Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    The main repository for a software project, from which different versions (forks) may be split off.
  2. 7
    Alternative form of main line. alt-of, alternative

    "8. ...Qe7! is the mainline and Black unpins with Nc6-d8-e6 […]"

  3. 8
    The general population of a prison.
Verb
  1. 1
    To inject (a drug) directly into a vein. slang

    "The patient skinpopped for 1½ years and then started to mainline heroin."

  2. 2
    inject into the vein wordnet
  3. 3
    To consume voraciously. broadly, informal, transitive

    "Last month, she lamented that her busy campaign schedule had kept her from mainlining Amazon’s new “Rings of Power” series."

  4. 4
    To integrate (code, etc.) into the main repository for a software project, rather than separate forks. transitive
  5. 5
    To include (a prisoner) in the general population of a prison. transitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

From main + line.

Etymology 2

From main + line.

Etymology 3

From main + line.

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