Having a smooth, efficient shape that reduces resistance through air or water; designed for maximum efficiency with minimal complexity.
From 'stream' (Old English 'stream') + 'line' (Latin 'linea'), first used in 1930s aviation to describe aerodynamically efficient shapes. Extended metaphorically to mean 'simplified' or 'made more efficient' by 1940s.
This word beautifully captures how nature inspired technology - engineers studying fish and bird shapes led to both faster planes and the modern obsession with 'streamlining' everything from workflows to user interfaces. The word literally went from describing water flow to describing how we organize our digital lives.
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