fluid

¹flu·id

adjective \ˈflü-əd\

Definition of FLUID

1

a : having particles that easily move and change their relative position without a separation of the mass and that easily yield to pressure : capable of flowing

b : subject to change or movement <boundaries became fluid>

2

: characterized by or employing a smooth easy style <the ballerina's fluid movements> <fluid recitation of his lines>

3

a : available for various uses <a fluid computer program>

b : liquid 4 <fluid assets>

— flu·id·ly adverb

— flu·id·ness noun

Examples of FLUID

1. a substance in a fluid state
2. <warm the jam until it is fluid, then spread it over the cake>

Origin of FLUID

French or Latin; French fluide, from Latin fluidus, from fluere to flow; akin to Greek phlyzein to boil over

First Known Use: 1603

Related to FLUID

Synonyms

flowing, fluent, liquid

Antonyms

hard, nonliquid, solid

Related Words

circumfluent, circumfluous; diluted, thin, watery, weak; semiliquid, semisolid

Near Antonyms

clotted, coagulated, gelatinous, gelled, jelled, jellied, thick; gluey, glutinous, gooey, gummy, viscous

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

²fluid

noun

Definition of FLUID

: a substance (as a liquid or gas) tending to flow or conform to the outline of its container

— flu·id·al \ˈflü-ə-d^əl\ adjective

— flu·id·al·ly \-d^əl-ē\ adverb

— flu·id·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

Examples of FLUID

1. Please check the fluids in the car's engine.
2. She needs to drink plenty of fluids.
3. Fluid leaked from the car's engine.
4. a bottle of yellow fluid

First Known Use of FLUID

1661

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

Rhymes with FLUID

druid

fluid

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any liquid or gas that cannot sustain a shearing force when at rest and that undergoes a continuous change in shape (see flow) when subjected to such a stress. Compressed fluids exert an outward pressure that is perpendicular to the walls of their containers. A perfect fluid lacks viscosity, but real fluids do not.