— fluency, fluentness , n. — fluently , adv.
/flooh"euhnt/ , adj.
1. spoken or written with ease: fluent French.
2. able to speak or write smoothly, easily, or readily: a fluent speaker; fluent in six languages.
3. easy; graceful: fluent motion; fluent curves.
4. flowing, as a stream.
5. capable of flowing; fluid, as liquids or gases.
6. easily changed or adapted; pliant.
[ 1580-90; fluent- (s. of fluens ) flowing, prp. of fluere; see -ENT ]
Syn. 1, 2. FLUENT, GLIB, VOLUBLE may refer to a flow of words. FLUENT suggests the easy and ready flow of an accomplished speaker and is usually a term of commendation: a fluent and interesting speech. GLIB implies an excessive fluency divorced from sincerity or profundity; it often suggests talking smoothly and hurriedly to cover up or deceive, not giving the hearer a chance to stop and think; it may also imply a plausible, prepared, and well-rehearsed lie: He had a glib answer for everything. VOLUBLE implies the overcopious and often rapid flow of words characteristic of a person who loves to talk: She overwhelmed him with her voluble answer. See also eloquent .