Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Stream?

\Stream\ (str[=e]m), n. [AS. stre['a]m; akin to OFries. str[=a]m, OS. str[=o]m, D. stroom, G. strom, OHG. stroum, str[=u]m, Dan. & Sw. str["o]m, Icel. straumr, Ir. sroth, Lith. srove, Russ. struia, Gr. "ry`sis a flowing, "rei^n to flow, Skr. sru. [root]174. Cf. {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.'' --Chaucer. 3. Anything issuing or moving with continued succession of parts; as, a stream of words; a stream of sand. ``The stream of beneficence.'' --Atterbury. ``The stream of emigration.'' --Macaulay. 4. A continued current or course; as, a stream of weather. ``The very stream of his life.'' --Shak. 5. Current; drift; tendency; series of tending or moving causes; as, the stream of opinions or manners. {Gulf stream}. See under {Gulf}. {Stream anchor}, {Stream cable}. (Naut.) See under {Anchor}, and {Cable}. {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. Syn: Current; flow; rush; tide; course. Usage: {Stream}, {Current}. These words are often properly interchangeable; but stream is the broader word, denoting a prevailing onward course. The stream of the Mississippi rolls steadily on to the Gulf of Mexico, but there are reflex currents in it which run for a while in a contrary direction.
\Stream\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Streamed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Streaming}.] 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. --Milton. 2. To pour out, or emit, a stream or streams. A thousand suns will stream on thee. --Tennyson. 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\, v. t. 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. --Spenser. 2. To mark with colors or embroidery in long tracts. The herald's mantle is streamed with gold. --Bacon. 3. To unfurl. --Shak. {To stream the buoy}. (Naut.) See under {Buoy}.