/mayn"streem'/ , n.
1. the principal or dominant course, tendency, or trend: the mainstream of American culture.
2. a river having tributaries.
adj.
3. belonging to or characteristic of a principal, dominant, or widely accepted group, movement, style, etc.: mainstream Republicans; a mainstream artist.
4. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of jazz falling historically between Dixieland and modern jazz; specifically, swing music. Cf. traditional (def. 4).
v.t.
5. to send into the mainstream; cause to join the main force, group, etc.: to mainstream young people into the labor force.
6. to place (handicapped students) in regular school classes.
v.i.
7. to join or be placed in the mainstream.
[ 1660-70; MAIN 1 + STREAM ]