clause

Universal Words noun 1 (grammar) a group of words that includes a subject and a verb, and forms a sentence or part of a sentence: In the sentence 'They often go to Italy because they love the food', 'They often go to Italy' is the main clause and 'because they love the food' is a subordinate clause. 2 an item in a legal document that says that a particular thing must or must not be done: There is a clause in the contract forbidding tenants to sublet.