principal (n.)

  1. the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated

  2. the educator who has executive authority for a school; she sent unruly pupils to see the principal

    [ Syn: school principal , head teacher , head ]

  3. an actor who plays a principal role

    [ Syn: star , lead ]

  4. capital as contrasted with the income derived from it

    [ Syn: corpus , principal sum ]

  5. (criminal law) any person involved in a criminal offense, regardless of whether the person profits from such involvement

  6. the major party to a financial transaction at a stock exchange; buys and sells for his own account

    [ Syn: dealer ]

    principal (adj.)

  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

    [ Syn: chief , main , primary , master ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.