main course

IPA/ˌmeɪn ˈkɔːs/
IPA/ˌmeɪn ˈkɔːrs/

main course — noun

1. the cooked dish that forms the centre of a meal, usually eaten after a light fir

1.名詞A1
釋義

the cooked dish that forms the centre of a meal, usually eaten after a light first course and before a sweet dish.

例句

Paloma ordered the grilled salmon as her main course.

collocation: order + main course

The restaurant offers a choice of three main courses every evening.

countable noun pattern: a choice of [number] main courses

同義詞
  • main dish

    more general and informal than 'main course'; can refer to home-cooked meals

  • entree

    American English term used on restaurant menus; less common outside the US

反義詞
  • starter

    the first course of a meal, eaten before the main course

  • dessert

    the sweet course eaten after the main course

文法句型

the main course

a main course

用法筆記

In American English, 'entree' is often used as a synonym for 'main course', especially on restaurant menus.

常見錯誤

❌I ordered a main course of soup.
✅I ordered a bowl of soup as a starter.
💡Soup is usually a starter, not a main course, in Western-style meals.
❌I ate two main courses for lunch.
✅I had two dishes for lunch.
💡A meal typically has only one main course.

2. the largest sail on the main mast of a square-rigged ship, which catches the win

2.名詞C2
釋義

the largest sail on the main mast of a square-rigged ship, which catches the wind to move the vessel forward.

例句

The crew raised the heavy main course before the ship left the harbour.

collocation: raise + main course

Captain Faisal ordered the crew to lower the main course as the storm approached.

同義詞
  • mainsail

    the more common modern term for the main sail on any sailing vessel

文法句型

the main course

raise/lower the main course

用法筆記

This nautical meaning is very rare outside of historical sailing contexts. In everyday language, 'main course' almost always refers to food.