<B>mailable, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> that can be mailed. </DL>
<A NAME="mailbag">
<B>mailbag, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a large bag for carrying mail. </DL>
<A NAME="mailboat">
<B>mailboat, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a boat or ship that carries mail. </DL>
<A NAME="mailbox">
<B>mailbox, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a public box from which mail is collected. <BR> <I>Ex. We walked down to the corner mailbox to post the letters.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>a private box to which mail is delivered. <BR> <I>Ex. Everybody in the apartment building went to their mailbox each morning.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="mailcall">
<B>mail call,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the distribution of mail, especially in the armed forces. </DL>
<A NAME="mailcar">
<B>mail car,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a railroad car in which mail is sorted and transported. </DL>
<A NAME="mailcarrier">
<B>mail carrier,</B> <B>=mailman.</B></DL>
<A NAME="mailcenter">
<B>mail center,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S.) a business establishment that provides mailboxes for patrons. <BR> <I>Ex. Storefront businesses ... sometimes called "mail centers"--began springing up in California [in] response to the shortage of boxes at United States Post Offices (New York Times).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="mailchute">
<B>mailchute, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a chute for depositing mail, in a corridor on each floor in office buildings. </DL>
<A NAME="mailclerk">
<B>mail clerk,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> an office worker who takes care of the receiving, sorting, and distributing, and frequently the sending, of mail. </DL>
<A NAME="mailcover">
<B>mail cover,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S.) the screening and holding of certain types of mail by postal officials. <BR> <I>Ex. When a person is subjected to a mail cover, the Post Office records the name and address of anyone sending mail to him, as well as the postmarking and the class of mail (New York Times).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="maildrop">
<B>mail drop,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> an address used only for purposes of receiving mail. <BR> <I>Ex. ... Shakespeare and Company served as their club, mail drop, meeting-house, and forum (New Yorker).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="mailed">
<B>mailed, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>covered, armed, or protected with mail. <DD><B> 2. </B>(of animals) having a protective covering resembling armor or mail. </DL>
<A NAME="mailedfist">
<B>mailed fist,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> force of arms; military power. <BR> <I>Ex. The massive helms are symbolic of the knight's dauntless courage, as the mailed fist is of his might (Time).</I> adj. <B>mailed-fist.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="mailer">
<B>mailer, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a person who mails. <DD><B> 2. </B><B>=mailing machine.</B> <DD><B> 3. </B>a reinforced container in which to mail photographs, maps, or other material, especially to keep it from being bent or damaged. <DD><B> 4. </B>a vessel that carries mail. </DL>
<A NAME="mailgram">
<B>mailgram, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S.) <DD><B> 1. </B>a letter transmitted electronically from a telegraph office to a local post office for delivery to the addressee. <DD><B> 2. </B><B>Mailgram,</B> a trademark for the service transmitting such letters. </DL>
<A NAME="mailing">
<B>mailing</B> (1), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the sending of mail. <DD><B> 2. </B>something sent by mail. <DD><B> 3. </B>a batch of mail sent at one time. </DL>
<A NAME="mailing">
<B>mailing</B> (2), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Scottish.) <DD><B> 1. </B>a rented farm. <DD><B> 2. </B>the rent paid for a farm. </DL>
<A NAME="mailinglist">
<B>mailing list,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a list of names, such as those of people or businesses, to whom circulars, advertisements, or other matter are distributed by mail. </DL>
<A NAME="mailingmachine">
<B>mailing machine,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a machine for addressing and stamping mail. </DL>
<A NAME="mailingpiece">
<B>mailing piece,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a catalog, circular, or other advertising matter to be distributed by mail. </DL>
<A NAME="mailingtube">
<B>mailing tube,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a cardboard tube into which papers, maps, or photographs are rolled for mailing, to prevent creasing or other damage. </DL>
<A NAME="maill">
<B>maill</B> or <B>maille, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Obsolete.) mail (tax). </DL>
<A NAME="maillot">
<B>maillot, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (French.) <DD><B> 1. </B>a one-piece, close-fitting garment resembling a bathing suit, worn especially by dancers and acrobats. <DD><B> 2. </B>a one-piece bathing suit. </DL>
<A NAME="mailman">
<B>mailman, </B>noun, pl. <B>-men.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a man who carries or delivers mail; postman. </DL>
<A NAME="mailorder">
<B>mail order,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> an order sent by mail for goods that are to be shipped by mail or other means. </DL>
<A NAME="mailorder">
<B>mail-order, </B>adjective, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> of or having to do with mail orders or a mail-order house. <DD><I>v.t., v.i. </I> to send (merchandise) upon receiving orders by mail. <BR> <I>Ex. More than $40,000 worth of tickets were mail-ordered before the box office opened (Time).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="mailordercatalog">
<B>mail-order catalog,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a catalog for the advertisement of goods sold by mail order. </DL>
<A NAME="mailorderhouse">
<B>mail-order house,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a business firm that receives orders and sends goods by mail. </DL>
<A NAME="mailroom">
<B>mailroom, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a room used for receiving and distributing mail, as in an office. </DL>
<A NAME="maim">
<B>maim, </B>verb, noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1. </B>to cut off or make useless an arm, leg, ear, or the like, of; cripple; disable. <BR> <I>Ex. He lost two toes in the accident, but we were glad that he was not more seriously maimed.</I> (SYN) mutilate, mangle. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) to make defective or powerless. <BR> <I>Ex. You maim'd the jurisdiction of all bishops (Shakespeare).</I> <DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a crippling or wounding of the body; injury. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) a serious defect, blemish, or hurt. <DD><I>adj. </I> maimed. noun <B>maimer.</B> </DL>
<B>main</B> (1), adjective, noun, adverb, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> <B>1. </B>most important; largest. <BR> <I>Ex. the main dish at dinner, the main street of a town, the main line of a railway, the main branches of a river. No more than an interlude in the main business of his life (Hawthorne).</I> (SYN) principal, leading, chief. <DD><B> 2. </B>exerted to the utmost; full; sheer. <BR> <I>Ex. by main strength.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>designating a considerable stretch of water, land, or, sometimes, sky. <BR> <I>Ex. Over all the face of earth main ocean flowed (Milton).</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>(Nautical.) of or having to do with the mainmast or mainsail. <DD><B> 5. </B>(British and Scottish Dialect.) remarkable. <BR> <I>Ex. a main crop of apples. It were a main place for pirates once (Robert Louis Stevenson).</I> <DD><B> 6. </B>(Archaic.) mighty. <BR> <I>Ex. Soaring on main wing (Milton).</I> <DD><I>noun </I> <B>1a. </B>a large pipe or conductor which carries water, gas, sewage, or electricity to or from smaller branches. <BR> <I>Ex. When the water main broke, the houses on our block had no water.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>(British.) an electrical outlet. <DD><B> 2. </B>the open sea; ocean. <BR> <I>Ex. Forced from their homes ... To traverse climes beyond the western main (Oliver Goldsmith).</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>(Nautical.) a mainmast or mainsail. <DD><B> 4. </B>a main line of a railroad. <DD><B> 5. </B>(Archaic.) mainland. <DD><B> 6. </B>(Archaic.) physical strength, force, or power. <DD><B> 7. </B>(Obsolete.) a broad expanse. <DD><I>adv. </I> (British and Scottish Dialect.) exceedingly; very. <BR> <I>Ex. I am main sorry to displease your worship (William Godwin).</I> <DD><I>v.t. </I> (Slang.) to mainline. <BR><I>expr. <B>in the main,</B> </I>for the most part; chiefly; mostly. <BR> <I>Ex. Milly ... is an excellent girl in the main (James Fenimore Cooper).</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>with might and main.</B> </I>See under <B>might</B> (2). </DL>
<A NAME="main">
<B>main</B> (2), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a match between gamecocks. <DD><B> 2. </B>a number called by the caster before throwing the dice in the game of hazard. <BR> <I>Ex. He likes to throw a main of an evening (Thackeray).</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>a throw, match, or stake at dice. </DL>
<A NAME="mainbrace">
<B>mainbrace, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Nautical.) the brace attached to the lower yard of the mainmast. <BR><I>expr. <B>splice the mainbrace,</B> </I>(British Informal.) to serve alcoholic beverages; drink freely. <BR> <I>Ex. Mr. Falcon, splice the mainbrace, and call the watch (Frederick Marryat).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="mainchance">
<B>main chance,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the chance or probability of greatest importance or advantage to oneself. <BR> <I>Ex. He knew that the ladies of the stage have an ear for flattery, and an eye to the main chance (Reade).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="mainclause">
<B>main clause,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (Grammar.) a clause in a complex sentence that can act by itself as a sentence; independent clause: [Main clause] <BR> <I>Ex. There are differences of opinion on the matter [subordinate clause] which cause a great deal of disharmony.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="maincourse">
<B>main course,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (Nautical.) the square sail attached to the lowest yard of the mainmast of a square-rigged vessel. </DL>
<A NAME="maindefer">
<B>main-de-fer, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a defensive covering of iron for the hand, used in medieval tournaments. </DL>
<B>Mainer, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a native or inhabitant of the state of Maine. </DL>
<A NAME="mainforce">
<B>main-force, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S. Military.) belonging to the regular army; not guerrilla or paramilitary. <BR> <I>Ex. a main-force battalion.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="mainframe">
<B>mainframe, </B>noun, or <B>main frame,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the central processor and immediate access store of a computer. </DL>
<A NAME="mainland">
<B>mainland, </B>noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> the main part of a continent or land mass, apart from outlying islands or peninsulas. <DD><I>adj. </I> of or belonging to the mainland. <BR> <I>Ex. the mainland states of the United States. The Chinese who really count ... are the seven hundred million mainland Chinese (Maclean's).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="mainlander">
<B>mainlander, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a person who lives on the mainland. </DL>
