Word Study
fluid
CIDE DICTIONARY
fluid, a. [L. fluidus, fr. fluere to flow: cf. F. fluide. See Fluent.].
Having particles which easily move and change their relative position without a separation of the mass, and which easily yield to pressure; capable of flowing; liquid or gaseous. [1913 Webster]
fluid, n.
A fluid substance; a body whose particles move easily among themselves. [1913 Webster]
" Fluid is a generic term, including liquids and gases as species. Water, air, and steam are fluids. By analogy, the term was sometimes applied to electricity and magnetism, as in phrases electric fluid, magnetic fluid, though not strictly appropriate; such usage has disappeared." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
fluid, n. & adj.
--n.
1 a substance, esp. a gas or liquid, lacking definite shape and capable of flowing and yielding to the slightest pressure.
2 a fluid part or secretion.
--adj.
1 able to flow and alter shape freely.
2 constantly changing or fluctuating (the situation is fluid).
3 (of a clutch, coupling, etc.) in which liquid is used to transmit power.
--n.
1 a substance, esp. a gas or liquid, lacking definite shape and capable of flowing and yielding to the slightest pressure.
2 a fluid part or secretion.
--adj.
1 able to flow and alter shape freely.
2 constantly changing or fluctuating (the situation is fluid).
3 (of a clutch, coupling, etc.) in which liquid is used to transmit power.
Idiom
fluid drachm see DRACHM. fluid ounce see OUNCE(1).
Derivative
fluidify v.tr. (-ies, -ied). fluidity n. fluidly adv. fluidness n.
Etymology
F fluide or L fluidus f. fluere flow
THESAURUS
fluid
able to adapt, adaptable, adjustable, aerodynamics, afterdamp, air, alterable, alterative, aqueous, atmosphere, beverage, blackdamp, blood, breath, changeable, changeful, checkered, chokedamp, cloud, damp, drink, effluvium, ever-changing, exhalation, fetid air, firedamp, flatus, flexible, flowing, fluent, fluid extract, fluid mechanics, fluidal, fluidic, fluxible, fluxile, fluxional, fluxionary, formless, fume, gas, halogen gas, hydraulics, hydrogeology, ichor, impermanent, indefinite, inert gas, juice, juicy, kaleidoscopic, latex, liquid, liquid extract, liquidy, liquor, malaria, malleable, many-sided, mephitis, mercurial, metamorphic, miasma, milk, mobile, modifiable, movable, mutable, nonuniform, permutable, plastic, pliant, pneumatics, protean, proteiform, puff of smoke, reek, resilient, rubbery, running, runny, sap, sappy, semiliquid, shifting, smoke, smudge, solution, steam, succulent, supple, transient, transitory, uncertain, unfixed, unformed, unsettled, unstable, unsteady, vapor, variable, volatile, water, water vapor, watery, wheyROGET THESAURUS
fluid
Form
N form, figure, shape, conformation, configuration, make, formation, frame, construction, cut, set, build, trim, cut of one's jib, stamp, type, cast, mold, fashion, contour, structure, plasmature, feature, lineament, turn, phase, posture, attitude, pose, morphism, isomorphism, forming, formation, figuration, efformation, sculpture, plasmation, formed, plastic, fictile, formative, fluid, plasmic, isomorphous, pleomorphic, protean, changeable.Amorphism
N amorphism, informity, unlicked cub, rudis indigestaque moles, disorder, deformity, disfigurement, defacement, mutilation, deforming, chaos, randomness (disorder), fluid, shapeless, amorphous, formless, unformed, unhewn, unfashioned, unshaped, unshapen, rough, rude, Gothic, barbarous, rugged.Fluidity
N fluidity, liquidity, liquidness, gaseity, fluid, inelastic fluid, liquid, liquor, lymph, humor, juice, sap, serum, blood, serosity, gravy, rheum, ichor, sanies, chyle, solubility, solubleness, hydrology, hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, liquid, fluid, serous, juicy, succulent, sappy, ichorous, fluent, liquefied, uncongealed, soluble, fluidity, liquidity, liquidness, gaseity, fluid, inelastic fluid, liquid, liquor, lymph, humor, juice, sap, serum, blood, serosity, gravy, rheum, ichor, sanies, chyle, solubility, solubleness, hydrology, hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, liquid, fluid, serous, juicy, succulent, sappy, ichorous, fluent, liquefied, uncongealed, soluble.For further exploring for "fluid" in Webster Dictionary Online