streamline

American  

[streem-lahyn] / ˈstrimˌlaɪn /

noun

1. a teardrop line of contour offering the least possible resistance to a current of air, water, etc.

2. the path of a particle that is flowing steadily and without turbulence in a fluid past an object.

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verb (used with object)

streamlined, streamlining

1. to make streamlined.

2. to alter in order to make more efficient or simple.

adjective

1. streamlined.

streamline British  

/ ˈstriːmˌlaɪn /

noun

1. a contour on a body that offers the minimum resistance to a gas or liquid flowing around it

2. an imaginary line in a fluid such that the tangent at any point indicates the direction of the velocity of a particle of the fluid at that point

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verb

1. to make streamlined

streamline Scientific  

/ strēm′līn′ /

1. To construct or reconstruct an object to reduce the amount of drag it undergoes as it moves through a fluid, especially air or water.

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streamline Cultural  

1. The line traced by a liquid or gas as it moves. Streamlines are most commonly used in describing the flow of a liquid or gas around a solid object.

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Discover More

A “streamlined” design is one in which objects that move through a gas or liquid are shaped to match these lines, and therefore reduce the energy required to produce that motion.

Etymology

Origin of streamline

First recorded in 1870–75; stream + line ¹

Explanation

When you streamline something, you're simplifying it to make it more efficient or profitable. When you think of streamlining, think of a bunch of streams coming together to form one stream. This word is about taking something complicated with a lot of parts and turning it into a simpler, sleeker thing. When companies streamline, they cut staff and reorganize to make the business run more smoothly and make more money. When an engineer streamlines a car design, he takes out all the unnecessary parts and makes the engine more efficient.

Example Sentences

Hynes wrote that ZoomInfo’s changes to licensing flexibility to streamline the cost structure are positives for the long-term, but they “effectively put the brakes on any near-term recovery story.”

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

Porsche is doubling down on its strategic turnaround efforts by shedding further non-core assets, as its new chief executive looks to streamline the automaker and boost profit.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

EBay has already been taking steps to cut costs, with a strategy that includes embracing artificial-intelligence tools to help streamline its buying and selling processes.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

Reyes also noted the administration’s plans to “reorganize” the Forest Service to “strengthen local leadership, streamline operations, and improve mission delivery.”

From Salon • May 2, 2026

“They’re amazing creatures—the fastest birds on earth. They’re like shape- shifters, the way they streamline their bodies in the air.”

From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs

Related Words

• build
• carve
• construct
• embody
• fashion
• forge
• frame
• mold
• produce