fluid

American  

[floo-id] / ˈflu ɪd /

noun

1. 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.

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adjective

1. pertaining to a substance that easily changes its shape; capable of flowing.

2. consisting of or pertaining to fluids.

3. changing readily; shifting; not fixed, stable, or rigid.

   fluid movements.

4. convertible into cash.

   fluid assets.

fluid British  

/ ˈfluːɪd /

noun

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

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adjective

1. capable of flowing and easily changing shape

2. of, concerned with, or using a fluid or fluids

3. constantly changing or apt to change

4. smooth in shape or movement; flowing

fluid Scientific  

/ flo̅o̅′ĭd /

1. 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.

2. See also state of matter viscosity

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fluid Cultural  

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

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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; see -id ⁴

Explanation

Something that is unstable or subject to change can be described as fluid. The fluid political situation in a particular country makes it unsafe to travel there, with the constant possibility of a violent uprising. A liquid is a fluid — something that flows easily when poured — although gases can also be called fluid. When your doctor told you to drink lots of fluids to help your cold symptoms, she probably meant things like water or orange juice, not root beer floats. If a movement is smooth, it can also be described as fluid. You have to make fluid arm movements in ballet so you look graceful.

Example Sentences

Fluid is released from the lower body via veins and the lymphatic system, and those two channels rely on muscles contracting — squeezing — to help move fluid up against gravity.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2025

Fluid intake is vital, especially if the weather is warmer and the fasting person is planning strenuous exercise.

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2024

Fluid injection first reactivates the fault patches through slow, aseismic slip and causing only few and small seismic events, followed by a progressive localization ultimately leading to large induced events.

From Science Daily • Jan. 18, 2024

For the Journal of Fluid Mechanics study, the researchers set up a belly flop-like water experiment using a blunt cylinder but adding an important vibrating twist to it, which ultimately led them to counterintuitive findings.

From Science Daily • Nov. 6, 2023

Fluid Diet.—It is clearly seen that it would be practically impossible to obtain a sufficient number of calories by using milk alone or even a mixed fluid diet to supply the above requirements.

From Dietetics for Nurses by Proudfit, Fairfax T.

Related Words

• flexible
• shifting
• unsettled
• unstable