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Glite Dictionary
riser main

riser main

7.2
A vertical pipe in a building that carries water or gas to different floors
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : tubería principal
  • A leak in the riser main caused water damage in several apartments.

Examples

  • The plumber installed a new riser main to carry water to the upper floors.

  • Building codes require the riser main to be made of fire-resistant materials.

  • The riser main supplies water to all the upper floors.

  • Each riser main in the building is inspected annually.

  • A leak in the riser main caused water damage in several apartments.

  • The plumber installed a new riser main to carry water to the upper floors.

  • Building codes require the riser main to be made of fire-resistant materials.

Synonyms

main
vsriser main
  • Specialized
27 4.2

A large pipe that carries water, gas or sewage

is narrower, meaning a vertical building pipe rather than any large principal conduit
water main
vsriser main
  • Specialized
15 2.6

A large underground pipe that carries water to buildings

is instead the internal vertical distributor within a building for services
riser
vsriser main
  • Specialized
5 7.0

A vertical pipe in a building that carries water, gas, or waste to different floors

is the fuller technical description for that same vertical service pipe
gas main
vsriser main
  • Specialized
4 3.2

A big pipe that carries gas to homes and buildings

is focused on a single building's vertical pipe for multiple services
standpipe
vsriser main
  • Specialized
2 7.2

A vertical pipe that carries water in buildings for fighting fires and plumbing

is the general vertical service pipe used mainly for routine distribution
riser pipe
vsriser main
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A vertical tube that carries water or gas up between floors in a building

is the standard broad definition for distributing services across floors
riser pipeline
vsriser main
  • Specialized
6.5

A vertical pipe in a building that carries water or gas to different floors

is the common building term focusing on distribution to different floors

Surface Forms

riser main singular
riser mains plural

Morphology

riser + main

Both constituent nouns contribute their literal meanings: 'riser' denotes a vertical pipe and 'main' denotes a primary conduit, so their combination yields the meaning 'primary vertical pipe for distribution' as given. This noun–noun compounding is compositional and follows a transparent pattern common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words should be able to infer the MWE's meaning (noting it is technical vocabulary).

Etymology

Riser main may come from a simple image: riser means something that 'rises' up through the floors and main means the building's 'main' pipe. Imagine a big pipe running up through every floor to carry water or gas — that picture explains why the term means the main vertical pipe that supplies a building.