fluid

views updated Jun 11 2018

flu·id / ˈfloōid/ • n. a substance that has no fixed shape and yields easily to external pressure; a gas or (esp.) a liquid: we all need several glasses of fluid a day | a cleaning fluid. • adj. (of a substance) able to flow easily: the paint is more fluid than tube watercolors a fluid medium. ∎  not settled or stable; likely or able to change: our plans are still fluid the fluid political situation of the 1930s. ∎  smoothly elegant or graceful: her movements were fluid and beautiful to watch. ∎  (of a clutch or coupling) using a liquid to transmit power.DERIVATIVES: flu·id·ic / ˈfloōˈidik/ adj.flu·id·i·ty / floōˈidətē/ n.flu·id·ly adv.

fluid

views updated Jun 11 2018

fluid Any substance that has no fixed state and is able to flow. Of the three common states of matter, gas and liquid are considered fluid, while a solid is not.

fluid

views updated May 21 2018

fluid adj. XV; sb. XVII. — (O)F. fluide or L. fluidus, f. fluere flow; see -ID1.
Hence fluidity XVII.