mainstay

/ˈmeɪn.steɪ/

Meanings

noun

A chief support.

Examples :

"Agriculture is the mainstay of this country’s economy."

noun

Someone or something that can be depended on to make a regular contribution.

Examples :

"My grandmother is the mainstay of our family; she always provides meals and support. "

organization business society

noun

A stabilising rope from the top of the mainmast to the bottom of the foremast.

Examples :

"The mainstay secured the ship's rigging, preventing the masts from collapsing. "

nautical sailing technical

Related Words

stabilising verb

/ˈsteɪbəˌlaɪzɪŋ/ /ˈsteɪbəˌlaɪsɪŋ/

To make stable.

"Jody stabilized the table by putting a book under the short leg."

something noun

/ˈsamθɪŋ/ /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

An object whose nature is yet to be defined.

"My friend told me there was something in the box, but I didn't know what it was yet. "

grandmother noun

/ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌmʌðə(r)/ /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌmʌðɚ/

A mother of someone's parent.

"My grandmother taught me how to bake cookies when I was a child. "

contribution noun

/ˌkɒntɹɪˈbjuːʃən/ /ˌkɑntɹɪˈbjuʃən/

Something given or offered that adds to a larger whole.

"The students' generous contribution of old books to the school library helped many others. "

provides verb

/pɹəˈvaɪdz/

To make a living; earn money for necessities.

"It is difficult to provide for my family working on minimum wage."

preventing verb

/pɹɪˈvɛntɪŋ/

To stop (an outcome); to keep from (doing something).

"I brush my teeth regularly to prevent them from turning yellow."

support noun

/səˈpɔːt/ /səˈpɔɹt/

(sometimes attributive) Something which supports.

"The bridge's sturdy support beams prevented the structure from collapsing. "

mainmast noun

/ˈmeɪn.mɑːst/ /ˈmeɪn.mæst/

The chief, and tallest mast of a sailing ship that has more than one mast.

"The sailor climbed the mainmast to get a better view of the approaching storm. "

agriculture noun

/ˈæɡɹɪˌkʌltʃə/ /ˈæɡɹɪˌkʌltʃɚ/

The art or science of cultivating the ground, including the harvesting of crops, and the rearing and management of livestock

"My family's farm relies heavily on modern agriculture techniques to maximize crop yields. "

foremast noun

/ˈfɔːrmæst/ /ˈfɔrmɑːst/

The mast nearest the bow, on a ship with more than one mast.

"From the crow's nest high up on the foremast, the sailor had a clear view of the approaching land. "

collapsing verb

/kəˈlæpsɪŋ/ /kəˈlæpsɪn/

To break apart and fall down suddenly; to cave in.

"The old building's roof collapsed during the storm, sending debris everywhere. "

depended verb

/dɪˈpɛndɪd/

(followed by on or upon, formerly also by of) To be contingent or conditioned; to have something as a necessary condition; to hinge on.

"We would like to go skiing, but it depends on the amount of snow."