mainstay
/ˈmeɪnˌsteɪ/
noun
- A person or thing that provides the main support or foundation for something.
- Tourism is the mainstay of the island's economy.
- She has been the mainstay of the local theater group for decades.
- Rice is the mainstay of the diet in many Asian countries.
- A rope or cable that supports a ship's mast from the front.
- A frayed mainstay can endanger the entire mast.
- The crew checked the mainstay before setting sail.
- He tied the mainstay securely to the deck cleat.
Synonyms