stream \stream\ str=em, n. as. stre'am; akin to ofries.
   str=am, os. str=om, d. stroom, g. strom, ohg. stroum,
   str=um, dan.  sw. str"om, icel. straumr, ir. sroth,
   lith. srove, russ. struia, gr. "ry`sis a flowing, "rei^n to
   flow, skr. sru. root174. cf. catarrh, diarrhea,
   rheum, rhythm.
   1. a current of water or other fluid; a liquid flowing
      continuously in a line or course, either on the earth, as
      a river, brook, etc., or from a vessel, reservoir, or
      fountain; specifically, any course of running water; as,
      many streams are blended in the mississippi; gas and steam
      came from the earth in streams; a stream of molten lead
      from a furnace; a stream of lava from a volcano.
      1913 webster

   2. a beam or ray of light. "sun streams." --chaucer.
      1913 webster

   3. anything issuing or moving with continued succession of
      parts; as, a stream of words; a stream of sand. "the
      stream of beneficence." --atterbury. "the stream of
      emigration." --macaulay.
      1913 webster

   4. a continued current or course; as, a stream of weather.
      "the very stream of his life." --shak.
      1913 webster

   5. current; drift; tendency; series of tending or moving
      causes; as, the stream of opinions or manners.
      1913 webster

   gulf stream. see under gulf.

   stream anchor, stream cable. naut. see under anchor,
      and cable.

   stream ice, blocks of ice floating in a mass together in
      some definite direction.

   stream tin, particles or masses of tin ore found in
      alluvial ground; -- so called because a stream of water is
      the principal agent used in separating the ore from the
      sand and gravel.

   stream works cornish mining, a place where an alluvial
      deposit of tin ore is worked. --ure.

   to float with the stream, figuratively, to drift with the
      current of opinion, custom, etc., so as not to oppose or
      check it.
      1913 webster

   syn: current; flow; rush; tide; course.

   usage: stream, current. these words are often properly
          interchangeable; but stream is the broader word,
          denoting a prevailing onward course. the stream of the
          mississippi rolls steadily on to the gulf of mexico,
          but there are reflex currents in it which run for a
          while in a contrary direction.
          1913 webster
see also:
catarrh diarrhea rheum rhythm gulf stream gulf 
stream anchor stream cable anchor cable stream ice 
stream tin stream works to float with the stream stream current