principal

/'prinsəpəl/

Thân thiện

The principal greets students at the front entrance of the school.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Most important, main, or primary: Refers to the element, person, or thing that is of the highest rank or significance in a particular context.

2. Noun:

   • The head of a school: The educator with executive authority for a school.
   • A sum of money lent or invested, on which interest is paid: The original amount of a debt or investment, separate from the interest or profits.
   • A leading performer in a play, film, or other production: An actor who plays a major role.
   • A person who takes a leading part in an activity, transaction, or legal matter: The major party in a financial transaction or a person involved in a criminal offense.
   • A capital sum as contrasted with income: The main body of an estate or fund.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective:

  • The principal reason for his success is hard work.
  • She outlined the principal points of the argument.
  • The principal aim of the project is to reduce waste.

• Noun (Head of a school):

  • The school principal announced a holiday.
  • Students must get permission from the principal.

• Noun (Money):

  • He repaid the loan principal but still owes interest.
  • The investment has grown, but the principal remains secure.

• Noun (Performer):

  • She is one of the principals in the ballet company.
  • The film's principals attended the premiere.

• Noun (Leading participant):

  • He was named as a principal in the contract.
  • The broker acts as a principal in the transaction.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• In Law: A "principal" can refer to a person who authorizes another (an agent) to act on their behalf, or a person who commits or participates in a crime.
  • The defendant was charged as a principal in the robbery.
• In Finance: Often used in contrast with "interest" or "income."
  • Payments are applied to the interest first, then the principal.

Variants and Related Words

• Principally (adverb): Mainly; for the most part.
  • The company is principally involved in manufacturing.
• Principality (noun): A state ruled by a prince.
  • The Principality of Monaco is a sovereign city-state.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Main, chief, primary, foremost, dominant, key, paramount.
• Noun (Head of school): Headteacher, headmaster, headmistress, dean, director.
• Noun (Money): Capital, corpus, investment sum.
• Noun (Participant): Leader, chief, head, main participant.

Idioms and Phrases

• Principal and interest: The original sum borrowed plus the charge for borrowing it.
  • Your monthly payment covers both principal and interest.
• In principal capacity: Acting in one's main or most important role, especially in legal or financial contexts.
  • He signed the document in his principal capacity as CEO.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. most important element
   • the chief aim of living
   • the main doors were of solid glass
   • the principal rivers of America
   • the principal example
   • policemen were primary targets
   • the master bedroom
   • a master switch

Noun

1. the major party to a financial transaction at a stock exchange; buys and sells for his own account
2. (criminal law) any person involved in a criminal offense, regardless of whether the person profits from such involvement
3. capital as contrasted with the income derived from it
4. an actor who plays a principal role
5. the educator who has executive authority for a school
   • she sent unruly pupils to see the principal
6. the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated

Từ đồng nghĩa

• chief
• main
• primary
• principal
• master
• dealer
• corpus
• principal sum
• star
• lead
• school principal
• head teacher
• head