streamline
STREEM-lyn
/ˈstriːm.laɪn/
To design or provide with a form that presents very little resistance to a flow of air or water; to make an organization or system more efficient.
In business, it almost always means removing unnecessary steps or people to save money.
The story behind the word. Originally a term from fluid dynamics in the late 19th century, it referred to the path of a particle in a fluid. By the 1930s, it became a design movement (Streamline Moderne) and then a business term.
Word relationships
- simplify: Simplify means to make easier; streamline means to make more efficient by removing friction.
- complicate: To make something more difficult or complex.
Commonly confused with
- downsize: Downsize specifically means firing people; streamline is about the process (though it often leads to downsizing).
Word family
- streamlined (adjective): Efficient and modern.
Collocations
- streamline operations
- streamline the process
- streamline management
Idioms & expressions
- cut the fat
- trim the sails
Example sentences
- "The new software will help streamline the production process and reduce waste." Business efficiency
- "The car's body was redesigned to streamline it for better fuel efficiency." Design
Memory hook
Imagine a 'stream' flowing in a straight 'line'—no rocks or bends to slow it down. Remove the friction.
When not to use
Don't use for adding features; it's about taking away the 'clutter'.
Fun facts
- The 'Streamline Moderne' style of the 1930s made everything from toasters to trains look like they were moving fast, even when standing still.
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