Small, narrow rivers or flows of water moving continuously in one direction, or continuous flows of data, information, or other materials. In computing, it refers to sequences of data elements made available over time.
From Old English 'stream' meaning 'a flowing body of water,' related to Proto-Germanic 'straumaz.' The word has maintained its core meaning while expanding to describe any continuous flow, including abstract concepts like data or consciousness.
The metaphor of 'streaming' for digital media perfectly captures how modern technology mimics natural water flow—data arrives continuously rather than in chunks, just like a stream provides water steadily rather than in buckets. This linguistic bridge helps us understand new technology through familiar natural phenomena.
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