mainline

play

verb main·line \ ˈmān-ˌlīn \

Definition of mainline

transitive verb

slang :to take by or as if by injecting into a principal vein

intransitive verb

slang :to mainline a narcotic drug

See mainline defined for English-language learners

Examples of mainline in a Sentence

His addiction grew worse when he began mainlining.

Recent Examples of mainline from the Web

Watching Game of Thrones now feels like mainlining a bunch of CW shows like Arrow or Vampire Diaries—or even, sometimes, Jane the Virgin.

— annalee newitz, Ars Technica, "Game of Thrones has become a CW show," 28 Aug. 2017
Soon, us kids were mainlining the hard stuff - Eugene O'Neill and Tennessee Williams - and getting high on Sam Shepard.

— andrea simakis, cleveland.com, "Mamai Theatre Company, with an assist from Thornton Wilder, breathes new life into 'A Doll's House.' (Review)," 24 Aug. 2017
Initially resistant to Trump’s relentless assault on the party’s dignity and legitimacy, Republicans are now mainlining Trump’s xenophobia, and politicians like Kobach are the beneficiaries.

— eric armstrong, New Republic, "Kris Kobach Is Preparing to Be the Next Trump," 7 July 2017
The story may as well have been conceived by a 10-year-old after mainlining Fruit Roll-Ups.

— paul schrodt, Esquire, "Okja Is the Summer Blockbuster of the Future We Need," 5 July 2017
And no one seemed to be given pause by the fact that the brand’s most famous son had mainlined a fatal speedball just across the street.

— benjamin wallace, HWD, "Can Anyone Repair National Lampoon’s Devastated Brand?," 19 May 2017
And no one seemed to be given pause by the fact that the brand’s most famous son had mainlined a fatal speedball just across the street.

— benjamin wallace, HWD, "Can Anyone Repair National Lampoon’s Devastated Brand?," 19 May 2017
And no one seemed to be given pause by the fact that the brand’s most famous son had mainlined a fatal speedball just across the street.

— benjamin wallace, vanityfair.com, "Can Anyone Repair National Lampoon’s Devastated Brand?," 1 May 2017
No need to bother with a glass; at Leaf MD Skin Care Clinic in Beverly Hills, cocktails are mainlined.

— alexandra parnass, Harper's BAZAAR, "The New Lunchtime LIfts," 14 Feb. 2014

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mainline.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of mainline

1938

mainline

adjective

Definition of mainline

:being part of an established group; also :being in the mainstream

See mainline defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of mainline from the Web

Small jets with 50 seats or fewer have fallen out of favor among U.S. carriers, which have turned to larger regional jets and more mainline flying in recent years.

— justin bachman, Bloomberg.com, "JetBlue’s Founder Joins Bid to Start Private Jet Commuter Service," 29 Aug. 2017
The big swing states that Clinton lost in November—Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan—are strongholds of white, working-class voters, many of whom are mainline Protestants and Catholics.

— emma green, The Atlantic, "Hillary Wants to Preach," 6 Aug. 2017
Bitcoin Cash removes an important technical obstacle that has hampered the growth of the mainline Bitcoin network.

— timothy b. lee, Ars Technica, "Why the Bitcoin network just split in half and why it matters," 2 Aug. 2017
The mandatory evacuation will remain in place until mainline power is back on, affecting travelers and local businesses this week and perhaps next, leaving some in a dire situation at the height of the region’s most lucrative season.

— madhumita murgia, Washington Post, "Outer Banks power outage keeps tourists out of Hatteras, Ocracoke, maybe for weeks," 31 July 2017
Until recently, most of the decline in America’s churches was in mainline Protestant congregations.

— jeff cimmino, National Review, "For Evangelicals, the Marriage Debate Is Just Beginning," 20 July 2017
The 20 percent of white evangelicals who did not vote for Trump — many of whom are conservative politically and theologically — now seem to have a lot more in common with mainline Protestants.

— john fea, Washington Post, "Trump threatens to change the course of American Christianity," 17 July 2017
All three airlines have benefited financially by their moves to larger regional jets and, more recently, bringing in larger mainline equipment on some routes as regional airlines struggle to recruit enough pilots.

— justin bachman, Bloomberg.com, "Why Delta Is Better at Taking Your Money," 14 July 2017
But, in the heap of mediocrity that surrounded of the mainline crunk productions in the early 2000s, Diamond and Princess brought all kinds of lyrical hell to the Crime Mob albums.

— AL.com, "These are the women in southern hip-hop you should know," 14 July 2017

First Known Use of mainline

1941

main line

noun

Definition of main line

1 :a principal highway or railroad line

2 slang :a principal vein of the circulatory system

See main line defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of main line

1841

MAINLINE Defined for English Language Learners

mainline

play

verb

Definition of mainline for English Language Learners

: to inject (a drug) directly into a vein

mainline

adjective

Definition of mainline for English Language Learners

: belonging to an established and widely accepted group or system

main line

noun

Definition of main line for English Language Learners

: an important highway or railroad line

Medical Dictionary

mainline

play

verb main·line \ ˈmān-ˈlīn \

medical Definition of mainline

mainlined; mainlining

transitive verb

slang :to take by or as if by injecting into a principal vein

intransitive verb

slang :to mainline a narcotic drug (as heroin)

main line

noun

medical Definition of main line

slang

:a principal vein of the circulatory system

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mainline

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First Known Use of mainline

main line

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First Known Use of main line

MAINLINE Defined for English Language Learners

mainline

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mainline

Definition of mainline for English Language Learners

main line

Definition of main line for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

mainline

medical Definition of mainline

main line

medical Definition of main line

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