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)

streamlines, present (3rd person singular) streamlined, past participle, past streamlining present participle

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.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• streamlining
  present
• streamlined
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• streamline
  simple
• streamlines
  simple
• have streamlined
  perfect
• has streamlined
  perfect
• am streamlining
  progressive
• are streamlining
  progressive
• is streamlining
  progressive
• have been streamlining
  perfect progressive
• has been streamlining
  perfect progressive

Past

• streamlined
  simple
• had streamlined
  perfect
• was streamlining
  progressive
• were streamlining
  progressive
• had been streamlining
  perfect progressive

Future

• will streamline
  simple
• will have streamlined
  perfect
• will be streamlining
  progressive
• will have been streamlining
  perfect progressive

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

The losses are pegged to last month’s sweeping layoffs, which came amid the software provider’s attempt to streamline operations.

From Barron's • Jun. 30, 2026

The wildland service, which is part of the US Department of the Interior, was established in January this year to streamline firefighting efforts across public lands.

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026

Such a listing, officials said, would streamline and consolidate the regulatory process, and provide assurances to investors that outstanding questions would focus on how the project is built, as opposed to whether construction can proceed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026

As reported by the Wall Street Journal, Google’s DeepMind AI initiative will work with the cinephile’s favored studio to develop AI tools intended to streamline the filmmaking process.

From Salon • Jun. 23, 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