stream
stream — 名詞
1. a small, narrow body of water that moves naturally across the land through a gro
小溪；溪流
自然形成的狹窄水道，比河流小
a small, narrow body of water that moves naturally across the land through a groove worn into the earth, often feeding into a river or lake.
The children spent the afternoon catching frogs in the stream behind their house.
孩子們整個下午都在家後面的小溪裡抓青蛙。
A clear mountain stream ran through the forest, making a soft sound as it passed over the rocks.
一條清澈的山間溪流穿過森林，流過岩石時發出輕柔的水聲。
geographical description of a stream
After three days of heavy rain, the stream near the village rose dangerously high.
連續下了三天大雨之後，村子附近的小溪水位漲得非常高。
Esteban followed the stream for about a kilometre until he reached a small waterfall.
Esteban 沿著溪流走了大約一公里，來到一座小瀑布。
The old stone bridge crosses a narrow stream that divides the two farms.
那座古老的石橋橫跨一條狹窄的小溪，溪水將兩座農場分隔開來。
文法句型
a stream of [water/liquid]
stream + geographical name
用法筆記
Smaller than a river. In everyday speech, 'brook' and 'creek' are common alternatives, though 'stream' is the most neutral term for any naturally flowing channel of water.
常見錯誤
2. a continuous movement of liquid, gas, or fine particles, often coming from a sou
水流；氣流
液體、氣體或微粒的持續流動
a continuous movement of liquid, gas, or fine particles, often coming from a source with some force or pressure.
A stream of hot water shot out from the broken pipe and flooded the kitchen floor.
一股熱水從破裂的水管噴出，淹沒了廚房地板。
The mechanic noticed a slow stream of oil leaking from underneath the car engine.
技師注意到汽車引擎下方有一道緩慢的機油流正在滲出。
a stream of [liquid] — continuous flow from a source
When Talia opened the bottle, a thin stream of bubbles rose to the surface.
Talia 打開瓶子時，一道細細的氣泡流升到了水面。
Cold air came in through the window in a steady stream, making the room feel like a refrigerator.
冷空氣從窗戶源源不絕地吹進來，讓房間感覺像冰箱一樣。
The astronaut watched a stream of dust particles drift across the cabin in zero gravity.
太空人看著一道灰塵微粒流在無重力狀態下飄過艙內。
文法句型
a stream of [liquid/gas/fluid]
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (a natural water channel), this sense describes the physical movement of any fluid substance. The stream is the flow itself, not the channel it moves through.
常見錯誤
3. the way that water is heading as it moves, often used to describe position or mo
流向
水的流動方向，相對於潮流
the way that water is heading as it moves, often used to describe position or movement relative to the current.
The fisherman rowed his boat against the stream and made slow progress through the strong current.
漁夫逆流划船，在強勁的水流中前進得很慢。
against the stream — moving opposite to the current
Fallen leaves floated gently down the stream, carried along by the slow-moving water.
落葉順著溪流輕輕漂流，被緩慢流動的水帶往遠方。
To reach the camping site, we had to walk upstream along the bank for another three miles.
為了到達露營地，我們必須沿著河岸再往上游走三英里。
Linh threw a stick into the water and watched it drift with the stream until it disappeared from sight.
Linh 把一根樹枝丟進水裡，看著它順流漂動，直到消失在視線之外。
文法句型
against the stream
with the stream
upstream
downstream
用法筆記
Almost always used with prepositions: 'upstream' (against the flow), 'downstream' (with the flow), 'with the stream', 'against the stream'. Not used as a standalone count noun for direction.
4. people, vehicles, messages, or events that arrive or happen one after another wi
源源不絕
人群、車輛或事物接連不斷地湧現
people, vehicles, messages, or events that arrive or happen one after another with little or no gap between them.
A steady stream of visitors walked through the museum gates all morning.
整個早上，一批又一批的參觀者接連走進博物館大門。
a stream of [people] — continuous movement of individuals
Arjun's phone buzzed with a non-stop stream of messages from the group chat during the meeting.
Arjun 的手機在會議期間不斷響起，群組聊天室傳來一串又一串訊息。
The charity received a steady stream of donations after the news report aired on television.
新聞報導在電視上播出後，這家慈善機構收到了源源不絕的捐款。
Traffic on the highway moved in a slow stream of cars, lorries, and motorbikes during rush hour.
高速公路上的車流在尖峰時段像一條緩慢移動的長龍，夾雜著汽車、卡車和機車。
Kofi listened to the stream of announcements at the train station, waiting for his platform number to appear.
Kofi 聽著火車站一連串的廣播，等待他的月台號碼顯示出來。
文法句型
a stream of [people/vehicles/words/events]
用法筆記
Commonly used with 'steady', 'constant', 'continuous', 'endless' before 'stream of'. The subject can be abstract (messages, ideas, complaints) or concrete (people, cars).
常見錯誤
5. a class formed by putting pupils of roughly equal ability and age together for l
能力分班
英國學校按學生能力劃分的班級
a class formed by putting pupils of roughly equal ability and age together for lessons, as practised in some schools.
At the age of eleven, students in British secondary schools are placed into different streams based on their test results.
在英國中學，學生十一歲時會根據考試成績被分配到不同的能力分班。
British education system — ability grouping
Élise was moved to the top stream in mathematics after she scored full marks on the final exam.
Élise 在期末考試拿到滿分後，被調到數學科的最高能力班。
The school's policy of separating children into streams has been criticised for limiting the progress of slower learners.
該校將兒童按能力分班的政策因可能限制學習較慢學生的進步而受到批評。
Teachers at the school argued about whether the three streams should study the same material or different content.
學校的老師們對於三個能力分班應該學習相同還是不同的教材爭論不休。
文法句型
[be placed/put] in a stream
the top/bottom stream
用法筆記
Primarily British English. In American English, the equivalent term is 'track'. The practice of 'streaming' is called 'ability grouping' or 'tracking' in the US.
常見錯誤
6. digital audio, video, or other content that is delivered via the internet in an
串流；直播
經由網路即時傳送的影音資料流
digital audio, video, or other content that is delivered via the internet in an unbroken chain and can be played as it arrives, without waiting for a full download.
Mizuki watched a live stream of the concert on her phone while waiting for the bus.
Mizuki 在等公車的時候，用手機看了一場演唱會的直播。
live stream — real-time broadcast over the internet
The video stream kept pausing because the internet connection in the hotel was too slow.
因為飯店的網路連線速度太慢，影片串流一直停頓。
Daniel started his own gaming stream on a popular platform and gained over a thousand followers in his first month.
Daniel 在一個熱門平台上開啟了自己的遊戲實況頻道，第一個月就獲得超過一千名粉絲。
The audio stream of the podcast could be downloaded or listened to directly from the website.
這集播客的音檔串流可以直接從網站上收聽，也可以下載。
Otis adjusted the settings on the media player to switch from the standard stream to the high-definition stream.
Otis 調整了媒體播放器的設定，從標準串流切換到高畫質串流。
- feed
broader term, can refer to any continuously updated content (e.g. news feed, social media feed)
- broadcast
traditional term for TV/radio; 'stream' is internet-specific
- livestream
specifically a real-time stream as it happens
文法句型
stream [of video/audio]
watch/listen to a stream
live stream
用法筆記
Colloquially often shortened to 'stream' in phrases like 'watch a stream' or 'go live on stream'. The verb form (sense 3) is more active, while the noun refers to the content being delivered.
常見錯誤
7. a connected series of events, ideas, or trends that seem to move forward in a pa
潮流；思潮
事件或思想的連貫發展方向
a connected series of events, ideas, or trends that seem to move forward in a particular direction, like a flow of history or thought.
The novelist's work is famous for using the technique of stream of consciousness to reveal her characters' inner thoughts.
這位小說家的作品以運用意識流手法來揭示角色內心想法而聞名。
stream of consciousness — literary technique of continuous inner thought
Political analysts noted a steady stream of progressive reforms that changed the country's legal system over two decades.
政治分析家注意到在二十年間，一系列進步改革不斷改變了該國的法律體系。
Christopher found himself swimming against the stream of popular opinion when he defended the controversial policy.
Christopher 在為備受爭議的政策辯護時，發現自己正逆著主流輿論而行。
The documentary traces the stream of scientific discoveries that led from early radio waves to modern smartphones.
這部紀錄片追溯了一連串科學發現的脈絡，從早期的無線電波一路延伸到現代智慧型手機。
文法句型
the stream of [history/thought/consciousness]
against the stream of [trend/opinion]
用法筆記
This is the most abstract noun sense. Often appears in fixed literary or formal phrases like 'stream of consciousness', 'stream of history', 'the mainstream' (the prevailing trend). Not commonly used in everyday speech.
stream — 動詞
1. to pour out in great volume, like water gushing from a broken pipe or tears runn
湧出；流淌
液體或氣體大量不斷地流動
to pour out in great volume, like water gushing from a broken pipe or tears running down someone's face.
Blood was streaming from a deep cut on Tariq's hand after he broke the glass.
Tariq 打破玻璃後，鮮血從手上的深傷口不斷湧出。
stream from [source] — liquid flowing out of a wound
Rainwater streamed down the windows of the café, making the street outside look blurry and distant.
雨水順著咖啡館的窗戶流下，讓窗外的街道看起來模糊而遙遠。
stream down [surface] — liquid running along a surface
Ada's face was streaming with sweat after she ran five kilometres in the afternoon heat.
Ada 在午後的炎熱中跑了五公里後，滿臉都是汗水。
Smoke streamed out of the kitchen window when Otis accidentally burnt the toast.
Otis 不小心烤焦了吐司，濃煙從廚房窗戶滾滾冒出。
Tears streamed down the little girl's cheeks as she searched for her lost puppy in the park.
小女孩在公園裡尋找她走失的小狗時，淚水沿著臉頰不斷流下。
- trickle
to flow slowly in small amounts
文法句型
stream from [source]
stream down [surface]
stream with [liquid]
用法筆記
This verb is intransitive — it does not take a direct object. You cannot 'stream something'. For the internet meaning ('stream a movie'), see verb sense 3.
常見錯誤
2. to travel in large numbers along a route, like crowds heading toward an exit or
湧入；湧出
大量人群或車輛朝同一方向移動
to travel in large numbers along a route, like crowds heading toward an exit or cars advancing along a road.
Fans streamed out of the stadium after the final whistle, filling the streets with noise and excitement.
終場哨聲響起後，球迷蜂擁而出，擠滿了體育場外的街道，充滿了喧囂與興奮。
stream out of [place] — large group exiting
Passengers streamed through the terminal doors as the airport resumed normal operations after the storm.
風暴過後機場恢復正常營運，旅客魚貫穿過航廈大門。
Commuters streamed into the central station from every direction between eight and nine o'clock each morning.
每天早上八點到九點之間，通勤族從四面八方湧入中央車站。
Tourists streamed past the street performers in the old town square, stopping occasionally to drop coins into hats.
觀光客源源不絕地走過舊城廣場的街頭藝人身邊，偶爾停下來往帽子裡丟幾個硬幣。
Children streamed out of the school gates as soon as the bell rang, eager to start their weekend.
放學鈴聲一響，孩子們就衝出校門，迫不及待要開始他們的週末。
文法句型
stream in/out/past/through [place]
用法筆記
Almost always used with a directional preposition (in, out, through, past, into). The subject is typically a crowd of people, a line of vehicles, or animals in motion.
常見錯誤
3. to watch or listen to audio or video content over the internet in real time, or
串流；直播
透過網路即時收看或播放影音
to watch or listen to audio or video content over the internet in real time, or to broadcast such content for others — for example, watching a film on Netflix or broadcasting a video game on Twitch.
Mizuki streams her favourite Korean dramas on her tablet every evening after finishing her homework.
Mizuki 每天晚上做完功課後，都會用平板電腦上網看喜歡的韓劇。
stream [content] — transitive, watching media
The band decided to stream their new album live from the recording studio instead of releasing it on CD.
樂團決定直接在錄音室直播他們的新專輯，而不是發行 CD。
stream [content] live — broadcasting in real time
Millions of people around the world streamed the championship match on their phones and laptops.
全球數百萬人在手機和筆電上串流觀看了冠軍賽。
Kofi's internet connection was too weak to stream high-definition video, so he lowered the quality settings.
Kofi 的網路連線太慢，無法串流播放高畫質影片，所以他調低了畫質設定。
Christopher started streaming on a gaming platform last year and now has a small but loyal audience.
Christopher 去年開始在一個遊戲平台上開直播，現在已經有了一小群忠實觀眾。
- watch online
descriptive but not a single-word synonym; implies active viewing
- broadcast
traditional term for TV/radio transmission; now also used for online streaming
- livestream
specifically real-time streaming, as opposed to on-demand
- download
to save a file for later use, the opposite of real-time playback
文法句型
stream [movie/music/game]
stream on [platform]
livestream [event]
用法筆記
The most common modern verb sense. Can be used transitively ('stream a movie') or intransitively ('she streams every evening'). Related noun: 'streamer' (a person who broadcasts themselves online).
常見錯誤
4. to divide students into separate groups based on their academic ability, so that
按能力分班
將學生按學業能力分組教學
to divide students into separate groups based on their academic ability, so that each group can be taught at a level that suits them.
The school streams students by ability in mathematics and English from the age of twelve.
該校從學生十二歲起，就按照數學和英文能力進行分班。
stream [students] by [subject] — transitive verb in UK education
Élise was streamed into the advanced group for science after her excellent test results.
Élise 因為期中考成績優異，被分到進階的自然科學班。
Some educators argue that streaming children too early can reinforce social inequalities and damage slower learners' confidence.
有些教育工作者認為，過早將兒童按能力分班，可能會加深社會不平等，並打擊學習較慢學生的自信心。
In many British secondary schools, pupils are streamed for the first time when they enter Year Seven.
在許多英國中學，學生在進入七年級時會首次被按能力分班。
Tariq's parents requested that he not be streamed, because they wanted him to learn alongside classmates of all abilities.
Tariq 的父母要求不要將他分班，因為他們希望他與各種能力的同學一起學習。
- track
American English equivalent
- sort
more general term, not specific to education
- differentiate
teaching term for adapting instruction to different levels
- integrate
to teach students of all abilities together in the same classroom
文法句型
stream [students/pupils]
be streamed by ability
be streamed into [groups]
用法筆記
Primarily British English. The American equivalent is 'track'. Usually used passively: 'students are streamed by ability'. The noun form 'streaming' is very common in UK education policy discussions.