MAINSTAY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does mainstay mean? 

• MAINSTAY (noun)
  The noun MAINSTAY has 3 senses:

1. a prominent supporter

2. a central cohesive source of support and stability

3. the forestay that braces the mainmast

  Familiarity information: MAINSTAY used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MAINSTAY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A prominent supporter

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

mainstay; pillar

Context example:

he is a pillar of the community

Hypernyms ("mainstay" is a kind of...):

admirer; booster; champion; friend; protagonist; supporter (a person who backs a politician or a team etc.)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A central cohesive source of support and stability

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

anchor; backbone; keystone; linchpin; lynchpin; mainstay

Context example:

he is the linchpin of this firm

Hypernyms ("mainstay" is a kind of...):

support (something providing immaterial assistance to a person or cause or interest)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The forestay that braces the mainmast

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("mainstay" is a kind of...):

forestay (an adjustable stay from the foremast to the deck or bowsprit; controls the bending of the mast)

 Context examples 

The tumors were then treated with either an immunotherapy that included CpG-oligonucleotides or with the mainstay chemotherapy drugs oxaliplatin and cisplatin.

(Gut microbes may affect cancer treatment, NIH)

“Precious sight, and reasons of his own, says you. Reasons of his own; that's the mainstay; as between man and man. Well, then”—still holding me—“I reckon you can go, Jim.”

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Current mainstay methods for Anopheles control target mosquitoes resting or biting indoors and rely on synthetic chemical insecticides.

(Genetically modified fungus hailed as malaria breakthrough, SciDev.Net)