critical vs main

critical

noun
  • A critical value, factor, etc. 

  • In breakdancing, a kind of airflare move in which the dancer hops from one hand to the other. 

adj
  • Inclined to find fault or criticize. 

  • Relating to criticism or careful analysis, such as literary or film criticism. 

  • Of a patient condition involving unstable vital signs and a prognosis that predicts the condition could worsen; or, a patient condition that requires urgent treatment in an intensive care or critical care medical facility. 

  • Likely to go out of control if disturbed, that is, opposite of stable. 

  • Of the point (in temperature, reagent concentration etc.) where a nuclear or chemical reaction becomes self-sustaining. 

  • Extremely important. 

  • Of a temperature that is equal to the temperature of the critical point of a substance, i.e. the temperature above which the substance cannot be liquefied. 

  • Pertaining to, or indicating, a crisis or turning point. 

main

noun
  • That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the bulk, the greater part, gross. 

  • The primary character that one plays in a video game in which one can play more than one character. 

  • The high seas. 

  • A large cable or pipe providing utility service to an area or a building, such as a water main or electric main. 

  • A banker's shovel for coins. 

adj
  • Of chief or leading importance; prime, principal. 

  • Big; angry. 

  • Chief, most important, or principal in extent, size, or strength; consisting of the largest part. 

  • Belonging to or connected with the principal mast in a vessel. 

verb
  • To mainly play a specific character or side, or with specific equipment, during a game. 

adv
  • Exceedingly, extremely, greatly, mightily, very, very much. 

How often have the words critical and main occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )