fluid

[floo-id]

noun

1. a substance, as a liquid or gas, that is capable of flowing and that changes its shape at a steady rate when acted upon by a force tending to change its shape.

adjective

1. pertaining to a substance that easily changes its shape; capable of flowing.

2. consisting of or pertaining to fluids.

3. changing readily; shifting; not fixed, stable, or rigid.

   fluid movements.

4. convertible into cash.

   fluid assets.

fluid

/ ˈfluːɪd /

noun

1. a substance, such as a liquid or gas, that can flow, has no fixed shape, and offers little resistance to an external stress

adjective

1. capable of flowing and easily changing shape

2. of, concerned with, or using a fluid or fluids

3. constantly changing or apt to change

4. smooth in shape or movement; flowing

fluid

1. A state of matter, such as liquid or gas, in which the component particles (generally molecules) can move past one another. Fluids flow easily and conform to the shape of their containers.

2. See also state of matter viscosity

fluid

1. In physics, a substance that flows — usually a liquid or a gas.

Other Word Forms

• fluidal adjective
• fluidness noun
• fluidly adverb
• fluidally adverb
• nonfluid noun
• nonfluidly adverb
• unfluid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fluid¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin fluidus, equivalent to flu(ere) “to flow” + -idus adjective suffix; -id ⁴

Word History and Origins

Origin of fluid¹

C15: from Latin fluidus , from fluere to flow

Synonym Study

See liquid.

Example Sentences

Armani preferred straighter lines, subtler curves and light, fluid fabrics, to the point where his eveningwear gradually evolved into semi-sheer dresses that seemed to wrap the body in fine netting.

From Los Angeles Times

A group of healthcare workers in Santa Barbara were fired on Wednesday after posting a video apparently showing patients’ bodily fluids on TikTok, according to their employer.

From Los Angeles Times

The second was the idea of a period film — how can I be authentic and fluid in a period film, where you can’t just make things up in the moment, you can’t be spontaneous?

From Los Angeles Times

It transforms historically static records – think department of motor vehicles files, police reports and subpoenaed social media data like location history and private messages – into a fluid web of intelligence and surveillance.

From Salon

The spots fill up with fluid and become blisters before crusting over to form scabs, which eventually drop off and clear up.

From BBC

Related Words

• flexible 
• shifting www.thesaurus.com
• unsettled 
• unstable