I. ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: stream (I) + line
1.
a. : line of flow
streamlines of liquid flowing in a constricted tube — H.B.Lemon & Michael Ference
b. : the path of a fluid particle relative to a solid body past which the fluid is moving in smooth flow without turbulence
consider the streamlines … around the plane parts — S.A.Moss
2.
a. : a contour offering minimum resistance to a current
probably no animal or plant in the water is without some touch of streamline — R.E.Coker
the streamline of an airfoil
the island … was formed generally in a streamline — Norman Mailer
b. : a fluid line
streamline may not improve the performance of a typewriter but it makes it look efficient
II. ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ transitive verb
1.
a. : to adapt to a line of flow
even without human assistance the controls of an airplane tend to streamline themselves
b. : to provide with a contour offering minimum resistance to a current
the fish is the first organism to have its hind appendage … streamlineed into it — A.L.Kroeber
the nose is well streamline ed with aluminum cowling giving a bulletlike appearance — Aero Digest
c. : to design with flowing contours
streamline apparatus for greater cleanliness and safety — D.E.Pierce
2. : to bring up to date : renovate in appearance or attitude : modernize
wants to streamline his people by treading on their fondest superstitions — Joseph Hitrec
the archaic judiciary system has been streamlineed — T.H.Fielding
streamline the text, to bring it closer to the contemporary stage — John Mason Brown
3.
a. : to impose order or discipline upon : integrate , organize
everything is streamlineed — doctrine, tactics, production, armaments, all integrated, all enshrined in a single dynamic — Lewis Hastings
b. : to make simpler or more efficient
machines that extrude damp clay … streamline the work of clay modelers — Ford Times
enacted legislation combining our armed forces into a single department of defense to streamline our defense machinery — Think
c. : to reduce to a minimum
school terms were streamlineed … to get the graduate sooner for industry — E.C.McVoy