stream

A small river with water moving between its banks.

• A stream runs behind our house.
• We crossed the stream on a wooden bridge.
• Small fish swam in the clear streams.

Similar words: creek, brook

Common phrases: mountain stream, cross a stream, clear stream

Things that move or come one after another without stopping.

• A stream of people left the station.
• Her question interrupted my stream of thought.
• We received a steady stream of messages.

How to use it: a stream of something (A stream of visitors arrived throughout the afternoon.)

Similar words: flow, succession

Common phrases: stream of something, steady stream, constant stream, endless stream

Computer information that a program reads or writes in order, one part after another.

• The program reads data from a stream.
• Close the output stream after writing the file.
• These streams contain information from different sensors.

Similar words: data stream

Common phrases: data stream, input stream, output stream

To move or arrive steadily, without stopping.

• Water streamed into the boat.
• People were streaming through the gates.
• Sunlight streams through the kitchen window each morning.

How to use it: stream into/out of somewhere (People streamed out of the cinema.); stream down something (Rain streamed down the window.)

Similar words: flow, pour

Common phrases: stream into something, stream down something, stream through something, stream from something

To stretch out and move in waves in the wind.

• Her hair streamed in the wind.
• Bright ribbons streamed from the bicycle handles.
• The long banner was streaming behind the boat.

How to use it: stream behind someone/something (Her scarf streamed behind her as she ran.)

Similar words: flutter, trail

Common phrases: stream in the wind, stream behind someone, stream out