Streaming
Etymology
From the image of a stream — a continuous flow of water. The technology delivers media in a steady trickle of small pieces, buffering just enough ahead to play smoothly, so you start watching in seconds instead of waiting for a full download. The metaphor also captures the cultural change: content now flows past you on tap rather than sitting in a collection you own.
noun · /STREE-ming/
Playing audio or video as it arrives over the internet, rather than downloading the whole file first.
What it names
The shift from owning copies to accessing an endless flow — the business model that reshaped music, film, and television.
Example
They cancelled cable once streaming let them watch anything on demand.
Related idea
Streaming differs from downloading: a download saves a permanent copy you own, while a stream is transient access that vanishes when your subscription lapses or the license expires.
See also