adj
mainline
MAYN-lyn
Mainline (adj) means belonging to the principal, standard, or most widely accepted version of something. Example: “The band moved from underground clubs into mainline radio play.”
adj
1
Belonging to the principal, standard, or most widely accepted version of something.
"The band moved from underground clubs into mainline radio play."
verb
1
To inject a drug directly into a vein.
"The patient skinpopped for 1½ years and then started to mainline heroin."
— Richard Brotman, Alfred M. Freedman (1968)
"The character in the film is shown mainlining heroin."
How to use mainline
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAs an adjective, "standard" or "mainstream"; as a verb, injecting a drug straight into a vein.
When to use it
The drug-injection sense is informal and appears mostly in reference to hard drug use.
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- mainlines
- Past tense
- mainlined
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The band moved from underground clubs into _____ radio play.
Etymology
From main + line.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for mainline
See all rhymes for mainline →Frequently asked questions
What does “mainline” mean?
The word “mainline” means belonging to the principal, standard, or most widely accepted version of something. In plain terms, as an adjective, "standard" or "mainstream"; as a verb, injecting a drug straight into a vein.
How do you pronounce “mainline”?
“Mainline” is pronounced MAYN-lyn (/ˈmeɪnˌlaɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “mainline” in a sentence?
Here is “mainline” used in a sentence: “The band moved from underground clubs into mainline radio play.”
What part of speech is “mainline”?
Depending on how it is used, “mainline” can be an adjective and a verb.
How many meanings does “mainline” have?
“Mainline” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: belonging to the principal, standard, or most widely accepted version of something.
