principal

adjective

/ˈprɪnsəpl/

[only before noun]

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most important; main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。
- New roads will link the principal cities of the area.新建道路将连通这个地区的主要城市。
- Tourist revenue is now our principal source of wealth.旅游收入目前是我们的主要财源。
- My principal concern is to get the job done fast.我最关心的是把工作快点做完。
- The violins have the principal tune.小提琴有主调。
Homophones principal | principle
principal principle
/ˈprɪnsəpl/

/ˈprɪnsəpl/
- principal adjective
  They were joined on stage by their principal conductor.他们的首席指挥和他们一起上台。
- principal noun
  The college is excited to announce the appointment of a new principal.学院兴奋地宣布新校长的任命。
- principle noun
  Many green activists oppose GM crops on principle.许多绿色活动家原则上反对转基因作物。
Synonyms main
main
- major
- key
- central
- principal
- chief
- prime
These words all describe somebody/something that is the largest or most important of its kind.
- main [only before noun] largest or most important:
  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 [usually before noun] very large or important:
  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。
  When major is used with the or my/your/his/her/our/their it means ‘the largest or most important’: Our major concern here is combating poverty. 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: Be careful crossing the major road. • The major thing is to remain calm.
- key [usually before noun] most important; essential:
  He was a key figure in the campaign.他是这场运动的关键人物。
  Key is used most frequently in business and political contexts. It can be used to talk about ideas, or the part that somebody plays in a situation, but not physical things. It is slightly more informal than major, especially when used after a noun and linking verb: Speed is key at this point.
- central (rather formal) most important: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到处泛滥。
  Central is used in a similar way to key, but is more formal. It is most frequently used in the phrase something is central to something else.
- principal [only before noun] (rather formal) most important:指最重要的、首要的、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。
  Principal is mostly used for statements of fact about which there can be no argument. To state an opinion, or to try to persuade somebody of the facts as you see them, it is more usual to use key or central: The key/central issue here is…
- chief [only before noun] (rather formal) most important: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 [only before noun] (rather formal) most important; to be considered first:
  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/prime importance
Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin principalis ‘first, original’, from princeps, princip- ‘first, chief’.

principal

noun

/ˈprɪnsəpl/

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(British English, Canadian English) the person who is in charge of a college or (in Scotland and Canada) a university大学校长；学院院长
- Peter Brown, principal of St John’s College彼得 · 布朗，圣约翰学院院长
see also dean
Homophones principal | principle
principal principle
/ˈprɪnsəpl/

/ˈprɪnsəpl/
- principal adjective
  They were joined on stage by their principal conductor.他们的首席指挥和他们一起上台。
- principal noun
  The college is excited to announce the appointment of a new principal.学院兴奋地宣布新校长的任命。
- principle noun
  Many green activists oppose GM crops on principle.许多绿色活动家原则上反对转基因作物。
Extra Examples
- She was appointed as the first principal of Cambridge Training College.她被任命为剑桥培训学院的首任校长。
- The college principal says he's pleased with this year's results.学院院长说他对今年的成绩很满意。
Topics Educationc1, Jobsc1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- college
- school
- elementary-school
- …
See full entry
(North American English)
(British English head teacher)
a teacher who is in charge of a school（中小学）校长
- Principal Ray Smith雷 · 史密斯校长
- The regulations have been opposed by local high school principals.这些规定受到地方高中校长们的反对。
Topics Educationc1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- college
- school
- elementary-school
- …
See full entry
[usually singular] (finance金融) an amount of money that you lend to somebody or invest to earn interest本金；资本
- The principal must be repaid in full within ten years.本金必须在十年内还清。
the person who has the most important part in a play, an opera, etc.主要演员；主角
- The performance of the two principals is disappointing.两位校长的表现令人失望。
(specialist) a person that you are representing, especially in business or law（尤指商务或法律事务的）当事人，委托人
- The shareholders are principals and the managers are agents.股东是委托人，经理是代理人。