stream
STREEM
Stream (noun) means a small natural flow of water, smaller than a river. Example: “They waded across the shallow stream to reach the trail.”
noun
1
A small natural flow of water, smaller than a river.
"They waded across the shallow stream to reach the trail."
"A narrow stream runs along the bottom of the garden."
"The children spent the afternoon building a dam across the stream."
2
A steady, continuous flow of something, such as air, light, information, or people.
"A stream of complaints flooded the customer service line."
"A steady stream of commuters poured out of the station at eight."
"Sunlight came through the window in a bright stream across the floor."
verb
1
To send or watch audio or video continuously over the internet, without downloading it first.
"We streamed the entire season over the weekend."
"She streams her gaming sessions live every evening."
"My phone can stream the match, so we can watch it on the train."
How to use stream
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small river, or any steady flow of something — including, today, watching or broadcasting video/audio online.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
stream of consciousness
live stream
stream a movie
mountain stream
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Word forms
- Plural
- streams
- Third person singular
- streams
- Past tense
- streamed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They waded across the shallow _____ to reach the trail.
Etymology
From Old English strēam, from a very old root meaning "to flow" — the same root gives us the word "rheum."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for stream
See all rhymes for stream →Frequently asked questions
What does “stream” mean?
The word “stream” means a small natural flow of water, smaller than a river. In plain terms, a small river, or any steady flow of something — including, today, watching or broadcasting video/audio online.
How do you pronounce “stream”?
“Stream” is pronounced STREEM (/ˈstɹiːm/ in IPA).
How do you use “stream” in a sentence?
Here is “stream” used in a sentence: “They waded across the shallow stream to reach the trail.”
What part of speech is “stream”?
Depending on how it is used, “stream” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “stream” come from?
The word “stream” comes from Old English. From Old English strēam, from a very old root meaning "to flow" — the same root gives us the word "rheum.".
Is “stream” a common word?
“Stream” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “stream” have?
“Stream” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small natural flow of water, smaller than a river.
What is the difference between a stream and a river?
The difference is mainly size and strength of flow. A stream is a small, narrow, usually shallow flow of water that you can often step across. A river is much larger, wider and deeper, and is typically fed by many streams. In short, streams are small watercourses and rivers are large ones.
What is the difference between a stream and a creek?
They are very similar, and the choice of word is often regional. 'Creek' is common in the United States and Australia for a small stream, though in British English a creek can mean a narrow tidal inlet. In general use, stream and creek both describe a small, flowing body of water.
What are the different types of streams?
Small watercourses go by several names. A brook or rill is a very small stream, a creek is a modest one, and a tributary is a stream that flows into a larger river. Streams may also be permanent or seasonal, drying up in warmer months and returning after heavy rain.
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