bitstream

noun

bit·​stream ˈbit-ˌstrēm How to pronounce bitstream (audio)
variants or less commonly bit stream
communications
: a continuous sequence of transmitted data
… data is sent through cellular modems in packets instead of in bitstreams as in conventional modems.Shawn Willett and Steve Polilli
compare packet sense 5

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bitstream was in 1961

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Bitstream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bitstream. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!