SINCE 1828
fluid
adjective
flu·id
| \ ˈflü-əd
\
\
Definition of fluid
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: 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
a long screw that forces the fluid chocolate through fine openings — Technical Survey
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
3a
: available for various uses
a fluid computer program
b
: liquid sense 4
fluid assets
fluid
nounDefinition of fluid (Entry 2 of 2)
: a substance (such as a liquid or gas) tending to flow or conform to the outline of its container
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Other Words from fluid
Adjective
fluidly
adverb
fluidness
noun
Noun
fluidal
\ ˈflü-ə-dᵊl
\
adjective
\
adjective
fluidally
\ ˈflü-ə-dᵊl-ē
\
adverb
\
adverb
fluidlike
\ ˈflü-ə-dᵊl-ˌlīk
\
adjective
\
adjective
Examples of fluid in a Sentence
Adjective
a substance in a fluid state warm the jam until it is fluid, then spread it over the cakeNoun
Please check the fluids in the car's engine. She needs to drink plenty of fluids. Fluid leaked from the car's engine. a bottle of yellow fluid
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
In the short run, the more fluid became more willing to trade civil liberties for security, more willing to support the use of torture. — Ezra Klein, Vox, "A new theory for why Republicans and Democrats see the world differently," 18 Dec. 2018 While there hasn’t been a major attack since, the security situation in the oil region remains fluid, according to Weli. — Elisha Bala-gbogbo, Bloomberg.com, "Shell Says Nigeria Attacks Recur Even as Oil Output Recovers," 5 June 2018 Several recent studies found evidence that working-memory training may improve children’s math or reading skills or their fluid intelligence: the ability to reason in novel situations. — Sue Shellenbarger, WSJ, "The Science Behind Making Your Child Smarter," 24 Dec. 2018 Emotion is the lifeblood of the blobject, because these fluid, organic forms seem so alive. — Eliza Brooke, Vox, "Some people feel a tenderness toward bulbous candles and planters. Why?," 21 Dec. 2018 With weekly dialysis treatments came a multitude of side effects: weight loss, sciatica, fluid retention and vision damage. — Amanda Mitchell, Marie Claire, "Sarah Hyland Talks to 'Self' About Her Second Kidney Transplant and Suicidal Thoughts," 10 Dec. 2018 Two new British co-productions explore fluid sexuality in the modern world. — Sean Axmaker, The Seattle Times, "Now streaming: ‘The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,’ ‘The Children Act,’ ‘Sadie’," 14 Nov. 2018 Fresh out of the tube, the CC Red Correct looks like a minty-green, medium-thick moisturizer—more of a lightweight cream than a fluid liquid. — Rachel Nussbaum, Glamour, "Erborian's CC Cream Cancels Out Redness Like Magic," 16 Oct. 2018 Some of them are well-known, such as shrinking muscles and fluid redistribution. — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, "Touring Where the Mars-500 'Astronauts' Pretended to Take a Red Planet Journey," 11 July 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The lungs get clogged with white blood cells, fluid and debris and can no longer efficiently oxygenate the red blood cells, hence the cyanotic, blue-tinged skin so commonly observed in moribund young people during the Great War and its aftermath. — William F. Bynum, WSJ, "‘Pandemic 1918’ and ‘Influenza’ Review: Fire, Ice or Virus?," 4 Jan. 2019 Tattooed and lithe with short dark hair, Sanchez was among the newcomers handpicked by casting director Ashley Brokaw for a show that featured androgynous, gender fluid, and transgender models, many of whom had never walked before. — Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, "How Spanish Model Miriam Sanchez Went From Studying Business to Walking Vuitton," 16 Nov. 2018 Overall, the software recommended lower doses of IV fluids and higher doses of drugs that cause constriction of blood vessels. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "AIs trained to help with sepsis treatment, fracture diagnosis," 27 Oct. 2018 Fairey has chosen it for its proximity to the fluid (and at least partially mythical) border of two North Side neighborhoods, one known for being aggressively heteronormative in orientation, one not so much. — Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, "Chicago-set 'Support Group for Men' a chance to laugh at our current #MeToo moment," 2 July 2018 In early February 2012, after spending several weeks battling a fever, achiness and exhaustion, Bates saw her internist, who diagnosed the flu and advised rest and fluids. — Sandra G. Boodman, Washington Post, "Her doctor said she had the flu. It took years to find the real, and strange, illness.," 23 June 2018 More than four million gallons of toxic embalming fluids and 20 million feet of wood are put in the ground in the US every year, while a single cremation emits as much carbon dioxide as a 1,000-mile car trip. — Emily Atkin, WIRED, "The Powerful Groups Stonewalling a Greener Way to Die," 17 June 2018 More than four million gallons of toxic embalming fluids and 20 million feet of wood are put in the ground in the U.S. every year, while a single cremation emits as much carbon dioxide as a 1,000-mile car trip. — Emily Atkin, The New Republic, "The Fight for the Right to Be Cremated by Water," 14 June 2018 Both Medicare and many state governments are driving initiatives to compel hospitals to have systems in place to ensure that every patient who might have sepsis is rapidly screened and started on resuscitation fluids and antibiotics. — Derek Angus, STAT, "Current efforts to fight sepsis aren’t working. We need a bolder approach," 14 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fluid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for fluid
fluid
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of fluid
(Entry 1 of 2)
: capable of flowing freely like water
—used to describe something that can change easily or that changes often
: having or showing a smooth and easy style
fluid
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of fluid (Entry 2 of 2)
: a substance that is able to flow freely : a liquid substance
See the full definition for fluid in the English Language Learners Dictionary
fluid
adjective
flu·id
| \ ˈflü-əd
\
\
Kids Definition of fluid
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: capable of flowing like a liquid or gas
fluid lava
2
: having a graceful or flowing style or appearance
a dancer's fluid movement
fluid
nounKids Definition of fluid (Entry 2 of 2)
: something that tends to flow and take the shape of its container
fluid
adjective
flu·id
| \ ˈflü-əd
\
\
Medical Definition of fluid
(Entry 1 of 2)
: 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
fluid
nounMedical Definition of fluid (Entry 2 of 2)
: a substance (as a liquid or gas) tending to flow or conform to the outline of its container
specifically
: one in the body of an animal or plant — see cerebrospinal fluid, seminal fluid
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