fluid

American  

[floo-id] / ˈflu ɪd /

noun

1. a substance, as a liquid or gas, that is capable of flowing and that changes its shape at a steady rate when acted upon by a force tending to change its shape.

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adjective

1. pertaining to a substance that easily changes its shape; capable of flowing.

2. consisting of or pertaining to fluids.

3. changing readily; shifting; not fixed, stable, or rigid.

   fluid movements.

4. convertible into cash.

   fluid assets.

fluid British  

/ ˈfluːɪd /

noun

1. a substance, such as a liquid or gas, that can flow, has no fixed shape, and offers little resistance to an external stress

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adjective

1. capable of flowing and easily changing shape

2. of, concerned with, or using a fluid or fluids

3. constantly changing or apt to change

4. smooth in shape or movement; flowing

fluid Scientific  

/ flo̅o̅′ĭd /

1. A state of matter, such as liquid or gas, in which the component particles (generally molecules) can move past one another. Fluids flow easily and conform to the shape of their containers.

2. See also state of matter viscosity

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fluid Cultural  

1. In physics, a substance that flows — usually a liquid or a gas.

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Related Words

See liquid.

Other Word Forms

• fluidal adjective
• fluidally adverb
• fluidly adverb
• fluidness noun
• nonfluid noun
• nonfluidly adverb
• unfluid adjective

Etymology

Origin of fluid

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin fluidus, equivalent to flu(ere) “to flow” + -idus adjective suffix; -id ⁴

Example Sentences

Instead, they generate directed fluid flows that actively push proteins toward the leading edge, where cells extend, move and repair tissue.

From Science Daily

The former, which Miller once considered calling “The Inside of His Head,” is fluidly constructed, playing fast and loose with time as it tracks the disintegrating mental life of down-and-out salesman Willy Loman.

From Los Angeles Times

This month, the zoo announced Tina was suffering from an infection and abnormal buildup of fluid in her uterus.

From Los Angeles Times

In a surprising discovery that could reshape fluid mechanics, researchers at Drexel University have shown that under certain conditions, a simple liquid can behave like a solid and fracture.

From Science Daily

From the employee side of the window, the outside world looked fluid, all the people on the other side wavy, like an impressionist watercolor.

From Literature

Related Words

• flexible
• shifting
• unsettled
• unstable