Stream — Defs

01 n. 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…

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.
3.
Anything issuing or moving with continued succession of parts; as, a stream of words; a stream of sand.
4.
A continued current or course; as, a stream of weather.
5.
Current; drift; tendency; series of tending or moving causes; as, the stream of opinions or manners.

Phrases & compounds

Gulf stream — See under Gulf.

Stream anchor — 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 — a place where an alluvial deposit of tin ore is worked.

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.

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.

02 v. i. 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.

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.

03 v. t. To send forth in a current or stream; to cause to flow; to pour; as, his eyes streamed tears.

1.
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.

Phrases & compounds

To stream the buoy — See under Buoy.