stream
STREEM
/striːm/
To deliver or receive continuous digital video or audio over a network in real time without downloading full files beforehand.
Emphasizes ongoing real-time data delivery over the internet without permanent local file storage.
The story behind the word. From Old English 'strēam', denoting a flowing body of water. Computer scientists in the 1980s adopted the word as a metaphor for continuous digital data moving like a river through network channels.
Word relationships
- broadcast: 'Broadcast' traditionally sends signals via radio waves or cable networks, whereas 'stream' transmits internet data packets to specific users.
- download: Transferring a complete file to a local device storage drive before playing it.
Commonly confused with
- screencast: 'Screencast' is a digital recording of a computer screen display, while 'stream' is the network delivery method.
Word family
- streamer (noun): A service or individual person that streams media.
- streaming (noun): The activity or technology of transmitting media streams.
Collocations
- stream live
- stream content
- streaming platform
- video stream
Idioms & expressions
- mainstream
Example sentences
- "Millions of households now stream movies daily rather than buying physical Blu-ray discs." Technology adoption
- "The band decided to stream their concert live across the globe for fans who could not attend in person." Live entertainment
Memory hook
Data flows into your device continuously like water down a STREAM. Flowing data like a continuous river.
When not to use
Do not use for static offline files completely saved to a local hard drive before viewing.
Fun facts
- The first live-streamed audio event on the internet was a concert by the tech-employee band Severe Tire Damage in 1993.
Related words
Also appears in
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