Streams
stream (strem), n. (AS.stream; akin to OFries. stram, OS.
strom, D. stroom, G. strom, OHG.
stroum, strum, Dan. m, Icel.
straumr, Ir. sroth, Lith. srove, Russ.
struia, Gr. rysis a flowing, rei^n to
flow, Skr. sru. r174. 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. --
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. pr. 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 acurrent 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 heralds mantle is streamed with
gold. Bacon.
3. To unfurl. Shak.
To stream the buoy. (Naut.) See under
Buoy.
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