MAIN1 more important than anything else2 the main part of a problem, idea, or belief3 the main ideas in a speech, piece of writing etc4 ways of stating the main reason for something or the main part of somethingRELATED WORDSsee alsoBASICIMPORTANTIN GENERAL1 more important than anything else 比其他事都重要main /meɪn/ [adjective only before noun]more important than anything else 主要的，最重要的；最大的 Ben's main problem was lack of money. 本的主要问题是缺钱。 You should clearly state your main idea at the beginning of the essay. 你应该在文章的开头就明确地阐明自己的主旨。 We walked up the stairs to the main entrance of the building. 我们拾级而上走到这座建筑物的大门。 The main reason kids don't get vaccinated is that parents don't realize how important it is. 小孩子未注射疫苗的主要原因是父母没有意识到其重要性。chief/principal /tʃiːf, ˈprɪnspəl/ [adjective only before noun]more important than anything else. Chief andprincipal mean the same asmain, but they are used especially in written or formal English 主要的，最重要的，首要的〔尤用于书面语或正式语体〕 Coffee is the country's principal export. 咖啡是该国主要的出口商品。 Kendall's chief complaint about the opera is that the characters are not historically accurate. 肯德尔对这部歌剧主要不满之处是其中的人物历史上不真实。 The chief purpose of the march was to draw attention to the poor condition of schools. 这次游行示威的主要目的是想引起大家对学校的恶劣状况的关注。major /ˈmeɪdʒəʳ/ [adjective only before noun]one of the most important or serious things - use this especially when there is a small number of really important things, but a larger number of less important things 主要的；较重要的 Smoking is a major cause of heart disease. 吸烟是引起心脏病的一个主要原因。 I thought we agreed to talk to each other before making any major decisions. 我以为我们同意了在作出重大决定前要交换意见的。major citylarge and important city 大城市 Gang activity that was limited to major cities has now spilled over to towns and rural areas. 团伙犯罪以前局限于大城市里，如今已扩散到城镇和乡村地区了。key /kiː/ [adjective usually before noun]akey person or thing is one that is the most important because everything depends on them 关键的 We don't have much time, so let's concentrate on the key issues. 我们的时间不多，所以把精力集中在关键问题上吧。 Transport and communications are key areas of the economy. 交通与通讯是经济中的关键领域。be key to (doing) something Laws are key to maintaining an orderly society. 法律是维护一个有秩序的社会的关键因素。primary /ˈpraɪməriǁ-meri/ [adjective only before noun]primary concern/responsibility/reason/role etcthe most important one 最重要的问题/职责/原因/作用等 As always, security is our primary concern. 安全是我们最关心的问题，向来如此。 Financial reward is the primary reason most people work. 经济收入是大多数人去工作的主要原因。prime /praɪm/ [adjective only before noun]prime suspect/target/candidatethe one most likely to be chosen 头号嫌疑犯/首要目标/最佳人选等 Tourists are prime targets for theft and robbery. 游客是盗贼的首选目标。 The FBI regarded him as its prime suspect in the case. 联邦调查局视他为本案的头号嫌疑犯。 Cheryl is a prime candidate for the new managerial position. 谢里尔是新的管理职位的最佳人选。predominant /prɪˈdɒmɪnənt, prɪˈdɒmənəntǁ-ˈdɑː-/ [adjective]more noticeable, more powerful, or more common than others 最显著的；占主导地位的 Yellow is the predominant color in most of his paintings. 他的画作中大多数以黄色为主。 When we visited the country, our predominant impression was one of poverty and hardship. 访问该国时，我们对其最主要的印象就是贫穷与困苦。core /kɔːʳ/ [adjective usually before noun]use this about the main and most important parts of a subject, activity, plan etc 核心的 We concentrate most on teaching the core skills of reading, writing, and mathematics. 我们主要集中教读、写、算的基本技巧。 The government will discuss what they say are the core issues of education and health care. 政府将对他们所称的教育和保健的核心问题进行讨论。2 the main part of a problem, idea, or belief 问题、观点或信仰的主要部分crux /krʌks/ [singular noun]the most important part of a difficult problem, a question, or an argument etc that must be dealt with or understood before any further progress can be made 〔问题、论据等的〕关键；症结 Whether we can get funding or not is the crux. 我们能否找到资金来源是问题的症结所在。the crux of the matter/problem/question etc Finding a cheap source of energy is really the crux of the matter. 找到一种廉价的能源是真正的关键所在。 The crux of the court case is whether consumers deserve a refund. 这宗诉讼的关键问题是顾客是否应该得到退款。essence /ˈesəns/ [singular noun]the main feature or quality that gives something its own special character 本质；实质；要素the essence of something Equality is the essence of democracy. 平等是民主的本质。 The essence of his teachings can be summed up in the phrase ‘Know yourself.’ 他的学说的要义可以用“了解你自己”来概括。heart /hɑːʳt/ [singular noun]the most important part of a problem, consideration, question etc 中心，核心the heart of the matter/problem/question etc Let's stop talking about irrelevant issues, and get to the heart of the matter. 我们别再谈论无关的话题了，谈事情的要点吧。lie at the heart of something Money always lies at the heart of our fights. 钱总是我们吵架的最主要的原因。go/get to the heart of something This new book gets to the heart of the controversy over nuclear power. 这部新书直达有关核能的争论的核心。core /kɔːʳ/ [singular noun]the main part of an idea, belief, way of thinking etc, that everything else depends on 核心the core of something The core of the play's appeal is that the good guys win in the end. 该剧的感染力所在就是好人最终赢得胜利。to the core of something She had the ability to cut through to the core of a problem. 她能一下子就抓住问题的核心。at the core of something The profit motive is at the core of the capitalist system. 利润动机是资本主义制度的核心。the bottom line /ðə ˌbɒtəm ˈlaɪnǁ-ˌbɑː-/ [noun phrase]the main fact about a situation, that must be accepted and cannot be changed or avoided 主要情况；基本事实 Most people want to work in a place where they feel valued. That's the bottom line. 大多数人希望在感觉到自己受重视的地方工作，这是基本要求。the bottom line is The bottom line is, he's gone and he's not coming back. 主要问题是他走了，不回来了。3 the main ideas in a speech, piece of writing etc 演讲、文章等的中心思想the main/key points /ðə ˌmeɪn, ˌkiː ˈpɔɪnts/ [noun phrase]the main ideas or the basic meaning of a speech, piece of writing etc 要点 I made a few notes of the main points I wanted to cover in the speech. 我把讲话中要涉及的几处要点做了笔记。 The following article explains four key points that all new investors should understand. 下面的文章对所有新投资者都应该弄懂的四个要点作了解释。the gist /ðə ˈdʒɪst/ [singular noun]the general meaning of a speech, argument, piece of writing etc, without all the details 〔演讲、论据、文章等的〕大意；概要the gist of The gist of the article is that children should have more rights in deciding their own futures. 文章的大意是说孩子应有更大的权利决定自己的未来。get the gistunderstand the general meaning 理解大意 I couldn't hear everything they said but I got the gist. 他们说的我无法全部听到，但我知道了大意。the thrust of something /ðə ˈθrʌst əv something/ [noun phrase]the main aim or purpose of an argument, speech, or political action 〔论据、演讲或政治行动的〕要旨，要点 The whole thrust of the US policy was to isolate Cuba. 美国政策的整个重点是孤立古巴。 The thrust of the case is whether the federal law overrides the state ban. 此案的要点是州政府的取缔令是否抵触联邦法律，因而无效。essentials /ɪˈsenʃəlz/ [plural noun]the most important facts or ideas in a statement, for example in a description of events or a set of arguments or opinions 要点；要素 When reduced to their essentials, most religions are not so different. 如果归结到要点，那么大部分宗教都大同小异。essentials of She was always very quick to grasp the essentials of an opponent's argument. 她一向能迅速抓住对手论据的要点。4 ways of stating the main reason for something or the main part of something 陈述某事的主要原因或某事的主要部分等的说法mainly /ˈmeɪnli/ [adverb]use this to say what the main reason for something or the main part of something is 主要地 I was asked to lead the meeting mainly because Kristin is out of town. 他们让我来主持会议主要是因为克里斯廷出城去了。 My new job's fairly boring - it's mainly typing. 我的新工作颇为无聊—主要是打字。 The company sells its batteries mainly through electronics stores. 这家公司主要通过电子用品商店售出它生产的电池。largely/chiefly /ˈlɑːʳdʒli, ˈtʃiːfli/ [adverb]largely andchiefly mean the same asmainly, but they are used especially in written or formal English 主要地〔尤用于书面或正式英语〕 The bird lives chiefly on mice and other small animals. 这种鸟主要捕食老鼠及其他小动物。 The report says that drug use is largely responsible for the 40% rise in the city's homicide rate. 该报告称吸毒是导致该市杀人犯罪率增加40%的主要因素。 Money raised by the new tax is to be used chiefly for road construction. 新税收所得将主要用于修建马路。primarily/principally /ˈpraɪmərəliǁpraɪˈmerəli, ˈprɪnspli/ [adverb]firstly and most importantly 主要地；首要地 Foreign aid is intended principally for the south of the region. 外国的援助主要是为该地区的南部提供的。 The agency is primarily concerned with making sure the nation's food supplies are safe. 这个机构的主要职责是确保该国食品供应的安全。 She has a degree in anthropology, but she's primarily a writer. 她有人类学学位，但她主要是个作家。above all /əˌbʌv ˈɔːl/ [adverb]most importantly compared to other things, especially ones you have just mentioned 最重要的是〔尤与刚提及的事相比〕 Above all, she will be remembered for all the work she did in the community. 首先，她给社区所做的一切将使她名留后世。 Teaching history means above all knowing how to tell a story. 教历史意味着首先得知道怎么讲故事。first and foremost /ˌfɜːʳst ənd ˈfɔːʳməʊst/ [adverb]use this to say that something is the most important thing, and needs to be dealt with before anything else and given attention before anything else 首要；首先 First and foremost, they are looking for ways to save money. 首要的是他们正在寻找省钱的方法。 What children need first and foremost from their parents is a sense of security. 从父母那里，儿童最需要的是安全感。