Synonyms

fluid

American

[floo-id] / ˈflu ɪd /

noun

a substance, as a liquid or gas, that is capable of flowing and that changes its shape at a steady rate when acted upon by a force tending to change its shape.

adjective

pertaining to a substance that easily changes its shape; capable of flowing.
consisting of or pertaining to fluids.
changing readily; shifting; not fixed, stable, or rigid.

fluid movements.
convertible into cash.

fluid assets.

fluid British

/ ˈfluːɪd /

noun

a substance, such as a liquid or gas, that can flow, has no fixed shape, and offers little resistance to an external stress

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

capable of flowing and easily changing shape
of, concerned with, or using a fluid or fluids
constantly changing or apt to change
smooth in shape or movement; flowing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

fluid Scientific

/ flo̅o̅′ĭd /

A state of matter, such as liquid or gas, in which the component particles (generally molecules) can move past one another. Fluids flow easily and conform to the shape of their containers.
See also state of matter viscosity

fluid Cultural

In physics, a substance that flows — usually a liquid or a gas.

Related Words

See liquid.

Other Word Forms

fluidal adjective
fluidally adverb
fluidly adverb
fluidness noun
nonfluid noun
nonfluidly adverb
unfluid adjective

Etymology

Origin of fluid

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin fluidus, equivalent to flu(ere) “to flow” + -idus adjective suffix; -id ⁴

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Scientists around the world have been searching for reliable early indicators of Parkinson's disease, including markers found through brain imaging and spinal fluid analysis.

From Science Daily

He argued dialogue between the UK and China was "imperative" in a "turbulent and fluid" world.

From BBC

“Right now the world is both fluid and turbulent,” Xi said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Many of them are quite gender fluid, and that’s great, but the heteronormative girls are interesting because they want to be financially solvent.

From Los Angeles Times

Spider-parasitic mites feed on lymph, a fluid that circulates through the bodies of certain arthropods.

From Science Daily

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023