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DictionarystreamSmall watercourse
noun / verb

stream

STREEM/striːm/

Water flowing continuously along a channel.

The narrow stream winds between green banks and ripples over stones.

A small flowing watercourse winding through green banks with visible ripples over stones, clear narrow stream, no writing.
Etymology
streamOld Englishflowing water, current

Old English stream already referred to flowing water. The selected sense preserves that concrete image of a current moving along a natural channel.

In context

Town of Amherst, MA55:42
this is the stream when it's actually got water in it um of course this is a seasonal stream so it's only going to be flowing
Conservation Commission Meeting Oct 25, 2023

More examples

  • We cross the shallow stream on stepping stones.
  • Several mountain streams feed the lake.
  • Water streams through the drainage channel after heavy rain.

Forms

stream · streams · streamed · streaming

streamlet noun — A very small stream of water.

Similar words

brook
Usually suggests a particularly small, shallow natural stream.
creek
Often names a small stream; usage varies by region.
river
Names a larger natural watercourse, typically fed by smaller streams.