n.
- A flow of water in a channel or bed, as a brook, rivulet, or small river.
- A steady current in such a flow of water.
- A steady current of a fluid.
- A steady flow or succession: a stream of insults. See synonyms at flow.
- A trend, course, or drift, as of opinion, thought, or history.
- A beam or ray of light.
- Chiefly British. A course of study to which students are tracked.
v., streamed, stream·ing, streams. v.intr.
- To flow in or as if in a stream.
- To pour forth or give off a stream; flow: My eyes were streaming with tears.
- To come or go in large numbers; pour: Traffic was streaming by. Fan mail streamed in.
- To extend, wave, or float outward: The banner streamed in the breeze.
- To leave a continuous trail of light.
- To give forth a continuous stream of light rays or beams; shine.
- To emit, discharge, or exude (a body fluid, for example).
- Computer Science. To transmit (data) in real time, especially over the Internet.
on stream
- In or into operation or production: a new power plant soon to go on stream.
[Middle English streme, from Old English strēam.]
streamy stream'y adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.