stream

[ streem ]

noun

1. a body of water flowing in a channel or watercourse, as a river, rivulet, or brook.

   Synonyms: runnel, streamlet, run, rill

2. a steady current in water, as in a river or the ocean:

   to row against the stream;

   the Gulf Stream.

   Synonyms: tide, flow

3. any flow of water or other liquid or fluid:

   streams of blood.

4. a current or flow of air, gas, or the like.
5. a beam or trail of light:

   A stream of moonlight fell from the clouds.

6. a continuous flow or succession of anything:

   a stream of words.

   Synonyms: rush, torrent

7. prevailing direction; drift:

   the stream of opinion.

8. Digital Technology.
   1. a flow of data, as an audio broadcast, a movie, or live video, transmitted smoothly and continuously from a source to a computer, mobile device, etc.
   2. livestream ( def 2 ).

verb (used without object)

1. to flow, pass, or issue in a stream, as water, tears, or blood.

   Synonyms: pour

2. to send forth or throw off a stream; run or flow (often followed by with ):

   eyes streaming with tears.

3. to extend in a beam or in rays, as light:

   Sunlight streamed in through the windows.

4. to move or proceed continuously like a flowing stream, as a procession.
5. to wave or float outward, as a flag in the wind.
6. to hang in a loose, flowing manner, as long hair.

verb (used with object)

1. to send forth or discharge in a stream:

   The wound streamed blood.

2. to cause to stream or float outward, as a flag.
3. Digital Technology.
   1. to transfer or transmit (data) in such a way that it is processed in a steady and continuous stream:

      Internet service providers are talking about setting limits on the amount of data that can be streamed into your home.

   2. livestream ( def 1 ).
4. Nautical. to place (an object) in the water at the end of a line attached to a vessel.

stream

/ striːm /

noun

1. a small river; brook
2. any steady flow of water or other fluid
3. something that resembles a stream in moving continuously in a line or particular direction
4. a rapid or unbroken flow of speech, etc

   a stream of abuse

5. a flow of money into a business

   a revenue stream

6. any of several parallel classes of schoolchildren, or divisions of children within a class, grouped together because of similar ability
7. go with the stream or drift with the stream
   to conform to the accepted standards
8. off stream
   (of an industrial plant, manufacturing process, etc) shut down or not in production
9. on stream
   1. (of an industrial plant, manufacturing process, etc) in or about to go into operation or production
   2. available or in existence

verb

1. to emit or be emitted in a continuous flow

   his nose streamed blood

2. intr to move in unbroken succession, as a crowd of people, vehicles, etc
3. intr to float freely or with a waving motion

   bunting streamed in the wind

4. tr to unfurl (a flag, etc)
5. intr to move causing a trail of light, condensed gas, etc, as a jet aircraft
6. whenintr, often foll by for mining to wash (earth, gravel, etc) in running water in prospecting (for gold, etc), to expose the particles of ore or metal
7. education to group or divide (children) in streams

stream

/ strēm /

1. A flow of water in a channel or bed, as a brook, rivulet, or small river.
2. A flow of a watery substance, such as blood in blood vessels or cytoplasm in fungal hyphae, in an organism or in part of an organism.

Derived Forms

• ˈstreamˌlike, adjective
• ˈstreamlet, noun

Other Words From

• streamless adjective
• streamlike adjective
• inter·stream adjective
• outstream verb (used with object)
• under·stream noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of stream¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun streem, streme, Old English strēam; cognate with German Strom, Old Norse straumr; akin to Greek rheîn “to flow”; verb derivative of the noun; rheum

Word History and Origins

Origin of stream¹

Old English; related to Old Frisian strām, Old Norse straumr, Old High German stroum, Greek rheuma

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on stream, in or into operation:

   The factory will be on stream in a month.

More idioms and phrases containing stream

see change horses in midstream ; swim against the current (stream) .

Synonym Study

Stream, current refer to a steady flow. In this use they are interchangeable. In the sense of running water, however, a stream is a flow that may be as small as a brook or as large as a river: A number of streams have their sources in mountains. Current refers to the most rapidly moving part of the stream: This river has a swift current.

Example Sentences

Even with drones, cameras and security staff, thousands of people stream into the country illegally every year.

From BBC

Remini has been an outspoken critic of Scientology and her 2015 book, “Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology,” helped spur the series, the first season of which is currently available to stream on Discovery+.

From New York Times

Comcast will keep NBC broadcast television network, its film and television studios and its theme parks, as well as its Peacock streaming service.

From BBC

But as consumers shift to on-demand streaming platforms, the future of cable channels looks increasingly bleak.

From Los Angeles Times

ZLD can increase water recovery from this brine and reduce its volume, leading to more manageable desalination waste streams.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• cascade
• flood
• glide
• gush
• pour
• spill
• surge

More About Stream

What is a basic definition of stream?

A stream is a small river, a continuous flow, or a flow of data over the internet. Stream has several other senses as a noun and a verb.

Like a river, a stream is a body of water that flows from one source and ends by emptying into a larger body of water or a water basin. When it comes to rivers and streams, there is no official measurement used to separate them. Generally, a stream is considered to be smaller than a river, but even official organizations concerned with geography sometimes use both terms to refer to the same body of water.

• Real-life examples: The United States has millions of miles of streams. Streams play an important part in nature because they deliver water or offer shelter to plants, fish, and other aquatic animals. You might have a stream near you that is home to fish or other aquatic life.
• Used in a sentence: We saw a small fish jump out of the stream.

The word stream is used more generally to mean a flow of anything, not just water. One sense of the noun streamer is something that streams, such as a flame.

• Real-life examples: A stream of tears might flow out of your eyes if you hit your thumb with a hammer. You might hear about a stream of wind during a weather forecast. Department stores often get a stream of customers during the holidays.
• Used in a sentence: Luckily, the doctor quickly stopped the stream of blood coming from my leg.

In this same sense, stream is used as a verb to mean to flow like water, literally or figuratively.

• Used in a sentence: Milk streamed from the vats into the chocolate-making machinery.

Stream also refers to a flow of data that is transmitted over the internet to your computer or other electronic device. A stream usually takes the form of music, movies, video games, or a live video broadcast.

• Real-life examples: Netflix, YouTube, and Twitch allow people to watch streams of videos, while Spotify and Amazon Music offer music streams.
• Used in a sentence: We watched a stream of the movie on my laptop.

In this same sense, stream is used as a verb to mean to transmit or receive a stream of data over the internet. Here, a streamer is the person who sends or receives data over the internet.

Used in a sentence: I told her not to illegally stream music but she wouldn’t listen.

Where does stream come from?

The first records of stream come from before the 900s. It ultimately comes from the Old English noun strēam. The verb comes from the noun.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to stream?

• streamer (noun)
• streamy (adjective)
• streamless (adjective)
• streamlike (adjective)
• interstream (adjective)
• outstream (verb)
• understream (noun)

What are some synonyms for stream?

• river
• brook
• current
• surge
• tide
• torrent
• flow
• flood
• gush

What are some words that share a root or word element with stream? 

• livestream
• streamlined
• stream of consciousness
• don’t change horses in midstream
• swim against the stream

What are some words that often get used in discussing stream?

• water
• liquid
• movement
• data
• internet
• video
• audio

How is stream used in real life?

Stream is a common word that most often means a flow of water or liquid. Online, the word stream is much more likely to mean to transmit or receive data through the internet.

Urban & Small Stream Flood Warning for interior lowland areas (especially I-5 corridor) until 1145PM tonight. Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small creeks & streams, urban areas, highways, streets, underpasses, drainage areas & low-lying spots. #wawx

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) January 3, 2021

On the less pleasant side, Lucy our Asst Producer turned on her shower and 1000s of ants streamed out. I've been luckier. So far…

— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) January 5, 2011

Try using stream!

True or False?

A stream can be a creek, brook, or small river.

More About Stream

What is a basic definition of stream?

A stream is a small river, a continuous flow, or a flow of data over the internet. Stream has several other senses as a noun and a verb.

Like a river, a stream is a body of water that flows from one source and ends by emptying into a larger body of water or a water basin. When it comes to rivers and streams, there is no official measurement used to separate them. Generally, a stream is considered to be smaller than a river, but even official organizations concerned with geography sometimes use both terms to refer to the same body of water.

• Real-life examples: The United States has millions of miles of streams. Streams play an important part in nature because they deliver water or offer shelter to plants, fish, and other aquatic animals. You might have a stream near you that is home to fish or other aquatic life.
• Used in a sentence: We saw a small fish jump out of the stream. 

The word stream is used more generally to mean a flow of anything, not just water. One sense of the noun streamer is something that streams, such as a flame.

• Real-life examples: A stream of tears might flow out of your eyes if you hit your thumb with a hammer. You might hear about a stream of wind during a weather forecast. Department stores often get a stream of customers during the holidays.
• Used in a sentence: Luckily, the doctor quickly stopped the stream of blood coming from my leg.

In this same sense, stream is used as a verb to mean to flow like water, literally or figuratively.

• Used in a sentence: Milk streamed from the vats into the chocolate-making machinery. 

Stream also refers to a flow of data that is transmitted over the internet to your computer or other electronic device. A stream usually takes the form of music, movies, video games, or a live video broadcast.

• Real-life examples: Netflix, YouTube, and Twitch allow people to watch streams of videos, while Spotify and Amazon Music offer music streams.
• Used in a sentence: We watched a stream of the movie on my laptop. 

In this same sense, stream is used as a verb to mean to transmit or receive a stream of data over the internet. Here, a streamer is the person who sends or receives data over the internet.

• Used in a sentence: I told her not to illegally stream music but she wouldn’t listen.

Where does stream come from?

The first records of stream come from before the 900s. It ultimately comes from the Old English noun strēam. The verb comes from the noun.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to stream?

• streamer (noun)
• streamy (adjective)
• streamless (adjective)
• streamlike (adjective)
• interstream (adjective)
• outstream (verb)
• understream (noun)

What are some synonyms for stream?

• river
• brook
• current
• surge
• tide
• torrent
• flow
• flood
• gush

What are some words that share a root or word element with stream?

• livestream
• streamlined
• stream of consciousness
• don’t change horses in midstream
• swim against the stream

What are some words that often get used in discussing stream?

• water
• liquid
• movement
• data
• internet
• video
• audio

How is stream used in real life?

Stream is a common word that most often means a flow of water or liquid. Online, the word stream is much more likely to mean to transmit or receive data through the internet.

Urban & Small Stream Flood Warning for interior lowland areas (especially I-5 corridor) until 1145PM tonight. Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small creeks & streams, urban areas, highways, streets, underpasses, drainage areas & low-lying spots. #wawx

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) January 3, 2021

On the less pleasant side, Lucy our Asst Producer turned on her shower and 1000s of ants streamed out. I've been luckier. So far…

— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) January 5, 2011

 

When Netflix and Hulu launched I said “I’m not gonna buy *two* streaming services.” Now I have Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBOMax, Showtime, Amazon Prime, Roku, Sling TV, CBS All Access, Peacock, AppleTV+, Discovery+, Criterion Channel, WWE Network, Crunchyroll, Sony Crackle, (1/67)

— Brandon Scott Wolf (@BrandonEsWolf) January 6, 2021

Try using stream!

True or False?

A stream can be a creek, brook, or small river.