fluid

SayFLOO-id/ˈfluɪd/UK/ˈfluːɪd/

8 meanings of fluid

1
nouncountable or uncountable
A liquid: something that flows and pours, like water, milk, or oil.
Like water in a cup: it spreads out to fill whatever holds it.
Wipe up any fluid that spills on the floor.
The doctor told her to drink more fluid each day.
Similarliquid
Oppositesolid
Note
2
nouncountable
Anything that can flow and take the shape of its container, such as a liquid or a gas.
Like water or air: it has no fixed shape and moves to fill whatever holds it.
Air is a fluid, even though you cannot see it move.
A fluid will always spread out to fill its container.
Oppositesolid
Note
3
adjective
Likely to change, and not fixed or settled yet.
Like wet clay you can still reshape before it dries.
The plans are still fluid, so anything could change.
Her schedule stays fluid until the weekend.
Similarchangeable, unstable, volatile, unsettled, fluctuating
Oppositestable, fixed, settled, static
4
adjective
Moving in a smooth, easy way, like flowing water.
Like water sliding smoothly down a stream.
The dancer's movements were fluid and graceful.
He has a fluid running style that looks effortless.
Similarsmooth, graceful, flowing, fluent, elegant
Oppositejerky, stiff, awkward, clumsy
5
adjective
Having to do with liquids or the way they flow.
Scientists measure fluid pressure inside the pipes.
The fluid flow through the valve was tested carefully.
Note
6
adjective
Easy to turn into cash quickly.
Like water you can pour out right away, not ice you must melt first.
Their savings are fluid, so they can spend them anytime.
He kept his money fluid in case of emergencies.
Similarliquid
Oppositeilliquid
7
nouncolloquialusually plural
Liquid given to a sick person through a tube into a vein.
The nurse started fluids to keep him hydrated.
The nurse changed the fluid bag that was dripping into his arm.
Note

Less common meaning

8
adjectiverare
Having a gender that changes over time rather than staying the same.
Some of my friends are fluid and use different pronouns at different times.
Oh, Loki made sure of that. My mortal parents blamed him for the way I was, for being fluid.
2017, Rick Riordan, Magnus Chase and the Hammer of ThorHere, fluid means having a gender identity that changes over time.
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of fluid apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Latin fluidus meaning "flowing," from fluō "to flow."