Airstream

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A steady flow of air typically analyzed in atmospheric science
2. A continuous current of air that can influence both meteorological conditions and aviation performance
3. A constant movement of air, often studied in weather patterns or fluid dynamics

Etymology: "Airstream" is a plain compound: "air" joined to "stream," meaning a current or flow of moving air. Both parts are old English words that have kept their basic senses, so the term needs little unpacking. "Stream" in its earliest English use referred to a flowing body of water, and the transfer to moving air follows the same picture of a steady, directional flow that a river has. The word therefore describes a current of air in the way a stream describes a current of water.

Synonyms: draft, current, flow, airflow