Stream
/striːm/
Definitions
3 meaningsA body of flowing water, typically smaller than a river.
/striːm/
A natural flow of water.
The children played in the cool, clear stream.
💡 Simply: A stream is like a little river, a natural path where water flows. Imagine a small creek babbling through a forest, that's a stream! It's easy to remember because it's a natural feature you can see and experience.
👶 For kids: A stream is like a tiny river of water.
More Examples
We followed the stream as it wound its way through the forest.
The stream provided a source of water for the animals.
How It's Used
"The river's journey began as a small stream high in the mountains."
"The poet described the stream as a silver ribbon winding through the valley."
A continuous flow or supply of something.
/striːm/
A continuous flow or supply.
There was a constant stream of traffic on the highway.
💡 Simply: Imagine a constant flow of something, like a stream of people entering a store or a steady stream of emails arriving in your inbox. That's what this definition means—a continuous movement or supply. It's easy to imagine because you can observe it in everyday life, just like watching a stream of water.
👶 For kids: It's like a line or flow of things coming one after the other.
More Examples
The company enjoyed a steady stream of new orders.
We received a stream of complaints about the service.
How It's Used
"A steady stream of customers entered the shop."
"The company's profits showed a stream of revenue."
To flow or move continuously in a current; or, to transmit (audio or video) over a computer network.
/striːm/
To flow or move in a continuous current.
Tears streamed down her face.
💡 Simply: To stream something is to have it flowing continuously. Think of how water streams from a faucet or how you watch videos online; those are both examples of streaming. Easy to understand because you experience both of these things every day!
👶 For kids: To move like water, or to watch a movie online as it plays.
More Examples
The video was streamed live on YouTube.
Information streamed in about the breaking news.
How It's Used
"Tears streamed down her face."
"They streamed the video online."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
go with the stream
To follow the prevailing trend or direction.
"When the company announced a new direction, most employees decided to go with the stream and follow their lead."
a stream of consciousness
A literary style that presents a character's thoughts and feelings as they flow, without logical structure.
"The novel uses a stream of consciousness to show the character's internal conflicts."
From Old English *strēam* (strong current of water), from Proto-Germanic *straumaz* (water flow). Cognate with Dutch *stroom*, German *Strom*.
The term 'stream' has been used in literature and everyday language for centuries, initially referring to bodies of water and later extending to other continuous flows.
Memory tip
Think of a tiny river.