mainstream

Pluralmainstreams (some meanings)

Formsmainstreams, mainstreaming, mainstreamed

1. 1
   noununcountable

   The ideas, tastes, or activities that most people share or accept.

   Like the big crowd everyone follows, not the few people standing off to the side.

   Her music finally broke into the mainstream last year.

   Many ideas that once seemed strange are now part of the mainstream.

   Oppositefringe

   Note
2. 2
   adjective

   Accepted or used by most people, not just a small group.

   Like the kind of clothes most people wear, not a rare style only a few like.

   Electric cars have become a mainstream choice for families.

   The band's sound is too strange for mainstream radio.

   Similarconventional, popular, standard, orthodox

   Oppositefringe, alternative, niche, marginal

   Note
3. 3
   verbtransitive

   To make something popular or accepted by most people.

   Like turning a small side path into a busy main road that everyone uses.

   Streaming apps helped mainstream independent music.

   Social media can mainstream new slang very quickly.

   Similarpopularize, normalize

   Oppositemarginalize

   Note
4. 4
   verbintransitive

   To become popular and accepted by most people.

   Like a small stream that slowly grows until it joins the big river everyone knows.

   Yoga began to mainstream in Western countries decades ago.

   The technology mainstreamed faster than anyone expected.

5. 5
   nouncountable

   The main, strongest part of a flow of water or air.

   Like the fastest part in the middle of a river, where the water moves quickest.

   The boat drifted into the mainstream and picked up speed.

   Swimmers should stay clear of the fast mainstream of the river.

6. 6
   verbUStransitive

   To teach a student with disabilities in the same classes as other students.

   Like letting a new player join the main team instead of practicing alone on the side.

   The school decided to mainstream several students with hearing loss.

   Teachers worked hard to mainstream the new student successfully.

   Similarintegrate, include

   Oppositesegregate

   Note

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