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

Gastineau argues the video has caused him reputational damage, which in turn hurts his chances for endorsement deals and other income streams connected to his right of publicity. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Mar. 2025

The stream beckons the attention of nearly 530,000 YouTube subscribers while nearly a million Facebook followers stay caught up through daily recaps and updates. —Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025

Verb

Firefly will stream the liftoff live in collaboration with NASASpaceflight; coverage will begin 30 minutes before launch. —Mike Wall, Space.com, 15 Mar. 2025

After signing autographs and posing for photos at O’Hare, Blagojevich landed in Denver and then hopped into a black SUV with two of his attorneys to report to the prison — with a camera-toting helicopter tracking his movement and the image streamed live on TV websites. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025

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

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

Rhymes for stream

• beam
• bream
• cream
• creme
• deem
• dream
• gleam
• meme
• ream
• scheme
• scream
• seam

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