stream

noun

• 1a small, narrow river: a perfect trout stream

• 2a continuous flow of liquid, air, or gas:Frank blew out a stream of smoke the blood gushed out in scarlet streams
• a mass of people or things moving continuously in the same direction:there is a steady stream of visitors
• a large number of things that happen or come one after the other:a woman screamed a stream of abuse

• 3 Computing a continuous flow of data or instructions, typically one having a constant or predictable rate.
• a continuous flow of video and audio material relayed over the Internet.

• 4British a group in which schoolchildren of the same age and ability are taught:children in the top streams

verb

• 1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] (of liquid, air, gas, etc.) run or flow in a continuous current in a specified direction:she sat with tears streaming down her face sunlight streamed through the windows
• (of a mass of people or things) move in a continuous flow in a specified direction:he was watching the taxis streaming past
• [no object] run with tears, sweat, or other liquid:my eyes were streaming I woke up in the night, streaming with sweat [with object]:his mouth was streaming blood
• [no object] (of hair, clothing, etc.) float or wave at full extent in the wind:her black cloak streamed behind her

• 2 [with object] (often as noun streaming) Computing relay (data, especially video and audio material) over the Internet as a steady, continuous flow.

• 3 [with object] British put (schoolchildren) in groups of the same age and ability to be taught together: (as noun streaming)streaming within comprehensive schools is common practice