Stream
Stream (strēm) , noun
[Anglo-Saxon streám; akin to OFries. strām, Old Saxon strōm, Dutch stroom, German strom, Old High German stroum, strūm, Danish & Swedish strom, Icelandic straumr, Ir. sroth, Lithuanian srove, Russ. struia, Greek "ry`sis a flowing, "rei^n to flow, Sanskrit sru. r174. Compare Catarrh, Diarrhea, Rheum, Rhythm.]
1.
A current of water or other fluid; a liquid flowing continuously in a line or course, either on the earth, as a river, brook, etc., or from a vessel, reservoir, or fountain; specifically, any course of running water; as, many streams are blended in the Mississippi; gas and steam came from the earth in streams; a stream of molten lead from a furnace; a stream of lava from a volcano.
2.
A beam or ray of light.
Sun streams.
3.
Anything issuing or moving with continued succession of parts; as, a stream of words; a stream of sand.
The stream of beneficence.
The stream of emigration.
4.
A continued current or course; as, a stream of weather.
The very stream of his life.
5.
Current; drift; tendency; series of tending or moving causes; as, the stream of opinions or manners.
Collocations (6)
Gulf stream , See under Gulf.
Stream ice , blocks of ice floating in a mass together in some definite direction.
Stream tin , particles or masses of tin ore found in alluvial ground; -- so called because a stream of water is the principal agent used in separating the ore from the sand and gravel.
Stream works (Cornish Mining) , a place where an alluvial deposit of tin ore is worked. — Ure
To float with the stream , figuratively, to drift with the current of opinion, custom, etc., so as not to oppose or check it.
Stream , intransitive verb
1.
To issue or flow in a stream; to flow freely or in a current, as a fluid or whatever is likened to fluids; as, tears streamed from her eyes.
Beneath those banks where rivers stream.
2.
To pour out, or emit, a stream or streams.
A thousand suns will stream on thee.
3.
To issue in a stream of light; to radiate.
4.
To extend; to stretch out with a wavy motion; to float in the wind; as, a flag streams in the wind.
Stream , transitive verb
To send forth in a current or stream; to cause to flow; to pour; as, his eyes streamed tears.
It may so please that she at length will stream
Some dew of grace into my withered heart.
2.
To mark with colors or embroidery in long tracts.
The herald's mantle is streamed with gold.
3.
To unfurl. — Shakespeare