chief
adjective /tʃiːf/
  /tʃiːf/
- [only before noun] most important最重要的;首要的;主要的 - the chief cause/problem/reason主要原因/问题/理由 
- He became the chief architect of the Treaty of Paris.他成了巴黎条约的总设计师。 
- She cites the economy as her chief concern.她认为经济是她最关心的问题。 
- one of the President’s chief rivals总统的主要政敌之一 
- somebody's chief enemy/opponent某人的主要敌人/对手 
-  chief among somebody/something Chief among his challenges is the impact that current reforms could have on small businesses.他面临的主要挑战是当前的改革可能对小企业产生的影响。 
 Synonyms mainmain- major
- key
- central
- principal
- chief
- prime
 - main [only before noun] largest or most important:- Be careful crossing the main road.过大马路时小心点。 
- The main thing is to remain calm.最重要的是要保持冷静。 
 
- Be careful crossing the main road.
- major [usually before noun] very large or important:- He played a major role in setting up the system.他在建立这个系统的过程中起了主要的作用。 
 
- He played a major role in setting up the system.
- key [usually before noun] most important; essential:- He was a key figure in the campaign.他是这场运动的关键人物。 
 
- He was a key figure in the campaign.
- central (rather formal) most important:指最重要的、首要的、主要的: - The central issue is that of widespread racism.最重要的问题是种族主义到处泛滥。 
 
- The central issue is that of widespread racism.
- principal [only before noun] (rather formal) most important:指最重要的、首要的、主要的: - The principal reason for this omission is lack of time.跳过它的主要原因是时间不足。 
 
- The principal reason for this omission is lack of time.
- chief [only before noun] (rather formal) most important:指最重要的、首要的、主要的: - Unemployment was the chief cause of poverty.失业是贫穷的主要原因。 
 
- Unemployment was the chief cause of poverty.
- prime [only before noun] (rather formal) most important; to be considered first:- My prime concern is to protect my property.我最关心的是保护自己的财产。 
 
- My prime concern is to protect my property.
 - a/the main/major/key/central/principal/chief/prime aim/concern
- a/the main/major/principal road/town/city
- the main/key thing is to…
- to be of major/key/central/prime importance
 More Like This Adjectives that only come before a nounAdjectives that only come before a noun- all-round
- antenatal
- aspiring
- chief
- dedicated
- eventual
- express
- high-flying
- live
- lone
- mere
- mitigating
- rogue
- sheer
- standout
- ulterior
- utter
 - Her chief rival for the gold medal is Jones of the USA.她争夺金牌的主要对手是美国的琼斯。 
- The lion is the zebra's chief enemy.狮子对斑马造成的威胁很大。 
- Their chief preoccupation was how to feed their families.他们操心的主要是怎样填饱一家人的肚子。 
- Unemployment was the chief cause of poverty.失业是贫穷的主要原因。 
- the chief exponent of something某事的主要倡导者 
- the chief suspect in the case本案的主要嫌疑人 
- the chief guest at the function宴会的主要客人 
- Chief among the government's opponents were the bureaucrats, the military and the monarchy.政府的主要反对者是官僚、军队和君主。 
 
- the chief cause/problem/reason
- (often Chief)[only before noun] highest in rank最高级别的;为首的;首席的 - the chief economist at the World Bank世界银行的首席经济学家 
- She is Chief Medical Officer for England.她是英国首席医疗官。 
- the chief minister/secretary首席部长/秘书 
- the chief Washington correspondent for CBS News哥伦比亚广播公司驻华盛顿首席记者 
- the chief negotiator/adviser/strategist/spokesman 首席谈判代表/顾问/战略家/发言人 
- He became chief engineer of the Great Western Railway.他成了西部大铁路的总工程师。 
- Who is the new Chief Education Officer?谁是新的首席教育官? 
- Detective Chief Inspector Williams总督察威廉斯 
 
- the chief economist at the World Bank
- -in-chief(in nouns构成名词 最高级别的;为首的 - commander-in-chief总司令 
 
- commander-in-chief
词源Middle English: from Old French chief, chef, based on Latin caput ‘head’.