mainline

alternative main-line

1. not comparableNormal, principal or standard.

   Synonyms: mainstream

2. USnot comparableChristianityNot fundamentalist, charismatic or evangelical.

   At a time when mainline denominations are engaged in massive closures of small rural churches, independent charismatics are strategically helping to rechurch rural Canada.

   2010, Steven M. Studebaker, Pentecostalism and Globalization

   1 more example

   This doesn’t necessarily mean Christians are joining mainline congregations — the survey measures self-identification, not church affiliation. It is, nevertheless, a striking turnabout after years when mainline Protestantism was considered moribund and evangelical Christianity full of dynamism.

   2021 July 9, Michelle Goldberg, “The Christian Right Is in Decline, and It’s Taking America With It”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

3. not comparablerail transportOf or pertaining to the principal route or line of a railway.
4. not comparablerail transportOf or pertaining to a surface-level heavy rail system as distinct from an underground, elevated or light rail one.
5. not comparablerail transportOf or pertaining to national or long-distance rail network operators as opposed to urban and suburban operators.

   Merseyrail and mainline services affected by downpour with more heavy rain forecast

   2019 June 12, Ben Turner, “Liverpool weather forecast: Trains hit by flooding as rain set to batter Merseyside”, in Liverpool Echo

   1 more example

   Well-publicised flexible ticketing options are needed for both visitors and workers, integrated across the entire journey: from outside the capital all the way into central London, considering both TfL and mainline rail services.

   2021, Heart of London Business Alliance, “Written Evidence in "Supporting our high streets after COVID-19"”, in UK Parliament

6. not comparableeconomicsPertaining to a direct route between two major ports.

   Antonyms: feeder

7. not comparableboard gamesOf a sequence of opening moves: being part of a main line ("a standard sequence of opening moves considered to be best play").

   Short's pragmatic approach to the match was to avoid mainline theory and the teenager's computer preparation.

   2010 May 21, Leonard Barden, “Nigel Short shows benefit of experience during series with Anish Giri”, in The Guardian

   2 more examples

   After 3 e5 the Czech Benoni Defense is created. Unlike the mainline 3 e6, which aims for tactical counterplay in the center, Black aims for solidity there. He will choose later what flank to attack on.

   2006 May 7, Robert Byrne, “For Most Players, Speed Chess Is Like a Keystone Kops Melee”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 01 Feb 2023

   The first classical game featured a fairly mainline Nimzo-Indian Defense, with the players following one of So's October 2021 games until move 20.

   2022 April 4, Luci Kelemen, “Wesley So wins third leg of FIDE Grand Prix 2022 over Nakamura”, in Dot Esports, archived from the original on 30 Dec 2022

present singular third person mainlines · participle present mainlining · participle past mainlined · past mainlined

1. slangTo inject (a drug) directly into a vein.

   The patient skinpopped for 1½ years and then started to mainline heroin.

   1968, Richard Brotman, Alfred M. Freedman, A Community Mental Health Approach to Drug Addiction, page 97

   Synonyms: main

2. broadlyinformaltransitiveTo consume voraciously.

   Last month, she lamented that her busy campaign schedule had kept her from mainlining Amazon’s new “Rings of Power” series.

   2022 September 21, Jason Horowitz, “Hobbits and the Hard Right: How Fantasy Inspires Italy’s Potential New Leader”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

3. transitivecomputingTo integrate (code, etc.) into the main repository for a software project, rather than separate forks.
4. transitiveTo include (a prisoner) in the general population of a prison.

plural mainlines · alternative main line

1. aeronauticsAn airline's main operating unit, as opposed to codeshares or regional subsidiaries.
2. rail transportThe principal route or line of a railway.
3. fishingIn longline fishing the central line to which the branch lines with baits are attached.
4. businessThe pipeline carrying wastewater to the public drains or a septic tank.

   Many plumbers will tell you they don't go off property since that is the local water company's responsibility. Most local water companies would prefer that, if a line is snaked, it is snaked all the way to the mainline connection.

   2007, Melvin Ladon White, Property Owner's Sewer and Drain Guide, page 31

   1 more example

   In addition, opportunities exist for the introduction of these organisms into a system by means of broken or corroded piping, repair of existing mainlines, installation of new mains, back siphonage, and cross-connections, any of which may result in contamination of the water supply.

   2013, Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, page 80

5. slangA principal vein into which a drug can be injected.

   I'm searching for my mainline / I said I couldn't hit it sideways

   1968, “Sister Ray”, in Lou Reed (lyrics), White Light/White Heat, performed by The Velvet Underground

6. computingThe main repository for a software project, from which different versions (forks) may be split off.
7. alternativeboard gamesAlternative form of main line.

   8. ...Qe7! is the mainline and Black unpins with Nc6-d8-e6 […]

   2005 November 13, Malcolm Pein, “The Sunday chess column”, in The Daily Telegraph, archived from the original on 06 Jul 2016

8. The general population of a prison.

   Synonyms: genpop