stream

1 of 2

noun

ˈstrēm 

1

: a body of running water (such as a river or creek) flowing on the earth

also : any body of flowing fluid (such as water or gas)

2

a

: a steady succession (as of words or events)

kept up an endless stream of chatter

b

: a constantly renewed or steady supply

a stream of revenue

c

: a continuous moving procession

a stream of traffic

d

: digital data (such as audio or video material) that is continuously delivered one packet at a time and is usually intended for immediate processing or playback

Having proved their popularity with American couch potatoes, digital video recorders (DVRs) are about to get a boost in features that will allow them to zap several video streams throughout networked homes.

—Ed Frauenheim

3

: an unbroken flow (as of gas or particles of matter)

4

: a ray of light

5

a

: a prevailing attitude or group

has always run against the stream of current fashion

b

: a dominant influence or line of development

the influence of two streams of inheritance: genetic and cultural

—P. B. Baltes

6

British : track sense 5c

stream

2 of 2

verb

streamed; streaming; streams

intransitive verb

1

a

: to flow in or as if in a stream

b

: to leave a bright trail

a meteor streamed through the sky

2

a

: to exude a bodily fluid profusely

her eyes were streaming

b

: to become wet with a discharge of bodily fluid

streaming with perspiration

3

: to trail out at full length

her hair streaming back as she ran

4

: to pour in large numbers

complaints came streaming in

transitive verb

1

: to emit freely or in a stream

his eyes streamed tears

2

: to display (something, such as a flag) by waving

3

: to transfer (digital data, such as audio or video material) in a continuous stream especially for immediate processing or playback: such as

a

: to watch (a video) on a streaming service

… passed the time watching the same shows as he would have streamed at home.

—Greg Egan

b

: to broadcast (a video) for others to watch on a stream

I went live, but there was no one in my room. Just me. Streaming myself live. Shirtless. To no one.

—Will Dennis

Synonyms

Verb

• pour

Examples of stream in a Sentence

Noun

A stream flows through the field.

Verb

Tears streamed down his cheeks.

I could feel the cold air streaming in through the crack in the window.

Sunlight was streaming in through the window.

rays of light streaming through the clouds

His face streamed with sweat.

People streamed into the hall.

Immigrants streamed into the country.

Hundreds of letters streamed in from listeners.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Echo Canyon Loop: This route uses the Echo Canyon, Hailstone and Ed Riggs trails for a moderate 3.3-mile journey through spectacular rock formations into a lush cove punctuated by a stuttering little stream that flows seasonally. —Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024

There are just so many overlapping generations that there appears to be a steady stream of these cicadas every year. —Kate Golembiewski, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024

Blue Cube likens its highest flow option to sitting in an icy stream; the same drop of water won’t touch you twice without circulating. —Sean Evans, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024

Getting anything out of the waste stream saves money and helps the environment. —Dana Oland, Idaho Statesman, 8 Apr. 2024

Though the direct rent aid has already ended, the stream of pandemic money for lawyers has been crucial to continue keeping people housed and staving off homelessness, legal aid groups say. —Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024

By leveraging the purchasing power of large corporations and institutions, women business owners can gain access to stable revenue streams and long-term growth opportunities. —Rohit Arora, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

The tests themselves look like plastic pregnancy tests, with long handles for gripping and positioning the test correctly in the urine stream. —Sarah Bradley, Parents, 30 Mar. 2024

The committee would review the league’s financial documents and revenue streams, Dukes wrote in a January memo to artists. —Gavin Off, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2024

Verb

The latter has been streamed over 340 million times on Spotify, helping define her as a pop star to watch. —Thania Garcia, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024

All three episodes of Orlando Bloom: To The Edge will be streaming on Peacock on Thursday, April 18. —Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024

Where to see it: Available to stream or rent on numerous platforms. —Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024

All Strike Force games stream live on the IFL’s YouTube channel. —Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2024

Yet with the discovery of mineral wealth, more settlers streamed into the territory, leading to continued clashes. —Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024

Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers can also stream the series live and on demand. —Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 11 Apr. 2024

The new episodes will be available to stream on Peacock the next day. —USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024

Drawings are broadcast Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:59 p.m. ET and can be streamed online. —Don Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English streme, from Old English strēam; akin to Old High German stroum stream, Greek rhein to flow

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing stream

• counter-stream
• jet stream
• stream of consciousness
• third-stream
• bit stream
• live-stream

Kids Definition

stream

1 of 2 noun

ˈstrēm 

1

: a body of running water (as a river or brook) flowing on the earth

also : any body of flowing fluid (as water or gas)

2

: a steady flow

a stream of words

3

: a ray of light

stream

2 of 2 verb

1

: to flow or cause to flow in or as if in a stream

2

a

: to give off a bodily fluid in large amounts

her eyes were streaming

b

: to become wet with a discharge of bodily fluid

streaming with perspiration

3

: to trail out at full length

hair streaming in the wind

4

: to pour in large numbers

complaints came streaming in

5

: to transfer (digital data, such as audio or video material) in a continuous stream especially for immediate processing or playback

Medical Definition

stream

noun

ˈstrēm 

: an unbroken current or flow (as of water, a bodily fluid, or a gas) see bloodstream, midstream