principal
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++prin·ci·pal1 /ˈprɪnsəpəl/ ●●○ W2 AWL adjective [only before noun] MAINmost important 最重要的，首要的；主要的 SYN main His principal reason for making the journey was to visit his family. 他那次旅程的首要目的是探访家人。 Teaching is her principal source of income. 教书是她主要的收入来源。 the principal character in the book 书里的主人公► see thesaurus at important, main → principally
Examples from the Corpus
principal• The principal component, as always, is lack of language proficiency.• And in fact public shaming was one of the principal functions of police registration and surveillance.• The principal method of inquiry is analysis of company records and other contemporary sources.• Drafting cables to be dispatched to Washington is one of the principal occupations of the foreign service officer in the field.• Your taxes depend on where your principal residence is located.• After about two miles, I take the left fork and keep to the principal route.• Oil is the country's principal source of income.• The important properties of these three principal volcanic rock groups can be summarized in simple tables.principal2 ●●○ noun 1 school 学校 [countable] American EnglishSE someone who is in charge of a school 〔中小学的〕校长 SYN British English headteacher a small school with just three teachers and the principal 只有三位老师和一位校长的小型学校► see thesaurus at teacher2. university/college 大学/学院SE [countable] British English someone who is in charge of a university or college 大学校长，学院院长3 business 商业 [countable] American English the main person in a business or organization, who can make important business decisions and is legally responsible for them 〔企业或机构的〕负责人 The principal of the business has an office in New York. 这家公司的负责人在纽约有一处办公室。4 performer 表演者 [countable]AP the main performer in a play or in a group of musicians, dancers etc 〔戏剧、音乐等演出的〕主角，主要演员 She later became a principal with the Royal Ballet. 她后来成了皇家芭蕾舞团的主要演员。5. money 钱 [singular] technicalBFMONEY the original amount of money that is lent to someone, not including any of the interest 本金Examples from the Corpus
principal• Insured bonds carry a pledge from a private backer to pay interest and principal on the bonds if the issuer defaults.• Another teacher who moved me was an assistant principal named Cho, who doubled as a history teacher.• His comments on Paul Caton, the deputy principal, were gratuitously offensive.• Each son has a career in education -- three teachers and one principal.• Major Jack Tilley warmed up the troops much in the fashion of a jovial high school principal preparing students for graduation.• Once, after he had been absent a fortnight, the principal tackled his parents.• In the course of acting for each of their principals, estate agents will acquire information confidential to that principal.• The government will also receive inflation-adjusted 12 percent interest on the unpaid principal.From Longman Business Dictionaryprincipalprin‧ci‧pal1 /ˈprɪnsəpəl/ noun1[singular]FINANCE the original amount of a loan, not including any of the interest that is paidThe loan amounts outstanding totaled about $32.2 million in principal and $2.2 million in interest.No principal is due for repayment until next year.2[countable] an important person, manager etc in some types of organization, who may be legally responsible for its actionsMr O'Brien is a principal of the Law and Economics Consulting Group.3[countable]LAW the actual buyer and the seller in a business deal, rather than the people who represent them, or BROKERs who buy and sell for themNone of the principals would comment on the purchase price.principalprincipal2 adjective1most importantSYN MAINPortland is one of the principal unloading points for Japanese automobiles.Gulf’s strategy of concentrating on its principal business of oil and gas productionAs principal shareholders in the company, no one has a greater interest in its management.Baxter Healthcare is the principal subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. (=the largest company owned by them).Teaching is her primary source of income.the country’s principal trading partner2FINANCE relating to the original amount of a loan, rather than any interestThe total principal amount of debentures being sold was increased to $75 million.A new government may be unwilling to repay interest on the principal sum loaned.Origin principal1 (1200-1300) Old French Latin principalis, from princeps; → PRINCEprin·ci·pal1 adjectiveprincipal2 nounChineseSyllable
Business Corpus most important
principal
prin‧ci‧pal1 W2 AC /ˈprɪnsəpəl, ˈprɪnsɪpəl/ 
adjective [only before noun]most important
SYN main:
His principal reason for making the journey was to visit his family.
Teaching is her principal source of income.
the principal character in the book
⇨ principally
principal2 noun
1. SCHOOL [countable] American English someone who is in charge of a school
SYN headteacher British English:
a small school with just three teachers and the principal
2. UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE [countable] British English someone who is in charge of a university or college
3. BUSINESS [countable] American English the main person in a business or organization, who can make important business decisions and is legally responsible for them:
The principal of the business has an office in New York.
4. PERFORMER [countable] the main performer in a play or in a group of musicians, dancers etc:
She later became a principal with the Royal Ballet.
5. MONEY [singular] technical the original amount of money that is lent to someone, not including any of the interest
▪ teacher someone who teaches as their job, especially in a school: a high school teacher
▪principal (also headteacher British English) the teacher who is in charge of a school or college: The teacher sent him to the principal’s office.
▪tutor someone who gives private lessons to one student or a small group of students. In Britain, a tutor is also a teacher in a university: They hired a tutor to help him with his English. | Your tutor will help you find a subject for your essay.
▪lecturer someone who teaches in a university or college: University lecturers aren’t very well paid.
▪professor a teacher in a college or university. In Britain, a professor is a high-ranking university teacher, especially one who is head of a department: She was professor of linguistics at Cambridge University.
▪instructor someone who teaches a sport or a practical skill such as swimming or driving: He works as a ski instructor in the winter. | a driving instructor
▪coach someone who helps a person or team improve in a sport: a professional tennis coach
▪educator especially American English formal someone whose job involves teaching people, or someone who is an expert on education: Most educators agree that class sizes are still too big.
▪trainer someone who teaches people particular skills, especially the skills they need to do a job: a teacher trainer | Many companies pay outside trainers to teach management skills to their staff.
▪governess a woman who lived with a family and taught their children in past times: As a governess, Charlotte Brontë received twenty pounds a year.
| I |
adjective [only before noun]most important SYN main:
⇨ principally
| II |
noun1. SCHOOL [countable] American English someone who is in charge of a school
SYN headteacher British English:
2. UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE [countable] British English someone who is in charge of a university or college
3. BUSINESS [countable] American English the main person in a business or organization, who can make important business decisions and is legally responsible for them:
4. PERFORMER [countable] the main performer in a play or in a group of musicians, dancers etc:
5. MONEY [singular] technical the original amount of money that is lent to someone, not including any of the interest
| THESAURUS |
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main [ 指主要的、最重要的 ：◆ Be careful crossing the main road. 过大马路时小心点。 ◆ The main thing is to remain calm. 最重要的是要保持冷静。 major [ 指主要的、重要的、大的 ：◆ He played a major role in setting up the system. 他在建立这个系统的过程中起了主要的作用。 NOTE Major is most often used aftera with a singular noun, or no article with a plural noun. When it is used withthe ormy/your/his/her/our/their it means 'the largest or most important'.* major 最常用于不定冠词 a 之后，与单数名词连用；或不用冠词，与复数名词连用。major 与 the 或 my/your/his/her/our/their 连用时意为最主要的、最重要的 ：◆ Our major concern here is combatting poverty. 在这里我们最关心的是解决贫穷问题。 In this meaning it is only used to talk about ideas or worries that people have, not physical things, and it is also more formal than main .在该含义中 major 只用以指人的想法或担忧，而非物质的东西，且较 main 正式 ：◆ Be careful crossing the major road. ◆ The major thing is to remain calm. key [ 指最重要的、主要的、关键的 ：◆ He was a key figure in the campaign. 他是这场运动的关键人物。 NOTE Key is used most frequently in business and political contexts. It can be used to talk about ideas, or the part that sb plays in a situation, but not physical things. It is slightly more informal thanmajor , especially when used after a noun and linking verb.* key 最常用于商务和政治语境，可用来形容想法或某人在某情势下起的作用，而非物质的东西。key 较 major 稍非正式，用于名词加连系动词后尤其如此 ：◆ Speed is key at this point. 在这个时候速度是关键。 central ( most importantrather
指最重要的、首要的、主要的 ：◆ The central issue is that of widespread racism. 最重要的问题是种族主义泛滥。 NOTE Central is used in a similar way tokey , but is more formal. It is most frequently used in the phrasesth is central to sth else .* central 与 key 用法相似，但更正式，最常用于 be central to 短语中。 principal [ ( most importantrather
指最重要的、主要的 ：◆ The principal reason for this omission is lack of time. 跳过它的主要原因是时间不足。 NOTE Principal is mostly used for statements of fact about which there can be no argument. To state an opinion, or to try to persuade sb of the facts as you see them, it is more usual to usekey orcentral .* principal 主要用于陈述无可争辩的事实。表明意见或说服别人相信你所见到的事实，较常用 key 或 central ：◆ The key/central issue here is… 这里的关键问题是… chief [ ( most importantrather
指最重要的、首要的、主要的 ：◆ Unemployment was the chief cause of poverty. 失业是贫穷的主要原因。 prime [ ( most important; to be considered firstrather
指主要的、首要的 ：◆ My prime concern is to protect my property. 我最关心的是保护自己的财产。
Patterns
a/the main/major/key/central/principal/chief/prime aim/concern a/the main/major/principal road/town/city the main/key thing is to…to be of major/key/central/primeimportance