slender stream

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slender stream" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a narrow or thin body of flowing water, often in a poetic or descriptive context. Example: "As we walked through the forest, we came across a slender stream that sparkled in the sunlight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Olivier rubs his chin for a moment, then dashes over to his stash and pours a slender stream of lemon-olive oil all over the bread.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Rather than being immersed in water, however, each is a hollow container from which water spurts in slender streams through multiple little perforations.

The New York Times - Arts

Each is a hollow container from which water spurts in slender streams through multiple little perforations, falling like rain into a broad, shallow basin below.

The New York Times - Arts

Then another high waterfall, a slender hypnotic stream hurtling down the 100-foot mountainside, as the Cascade trail wound through beautiful native forest.

The New York Times - Travel

Reading the glossary, I was amazed by the compressive elegance of its lexis, and its capacity for fine discrimination: a caochan, for instance, is "a slender moor-stream obscured by vegetation such that it is virtually hidden from sight", while a feadan is "a small stream running from a moorland loch", and a fèith is "a fine vein-like watercourse running through peat, often dry in the summer".

The Guardian - Books

A simple spray jet nozzle is designed to produce a two-phase slender shear flow in a co-flowing air stream with well-defined boundary conditions.

International Journal of Multiphase Flow

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, South Africa — They definitely did not look like ordinary big-game hunters, the stream of slender young Thai women who showed up on the veld wearing tight bluejeans and sneakers.

The New York Times

Those summers were when David felt most fully himself, trotting alongside Priscilla down the rocky streets, climbing at midnight up the slender path beside the stream to a large flat stone that they considered their own, reclining there shoulder to shoulder, talking without thinking as stars fell overhead.

The New Yorker

Ms. Spark's first novel was published when she was 39, and after that she supplied a stream of slender novels and enigmatic short stories peopled with such curiosities as narrators from beyond the grave, flying saucers, grandmotherly smugglers with bread bins full of diamond-studded loaves and individuals of so little substance that they disappear when the door closes.

The New York Times

THE CROWD On a recent Saturday night, with no art openings planned, a steady stream of artsy, impossibly slender folks passed through.

The New York Times

I have observed them in that season when plates of ice still line the banks of tidal streams, "like pieces of slender glass rods shorter than a man's finger," as Rachel Carson described them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slender stream" in descriptive writing to evoke a sense of delicacy or narrowness in the natural landscape. Consider using it when you want to emphasize the stream's gentle flow or small size.

Common error

Avoid using "slender stream" in highly technical or scientific writing where precision is paramount. More specific terms like 'narrow channel' or 'low-volume flow' might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slender stream" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "slender" modifies the noun "stream". Ludwig shows it's used to describe a narrow and delicate body of flowing water.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slender stream" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe a narrow and delicate watercourse. As Ludwig confirms, it appears most frequently in news media, science, and encyclopedia contexts. While versatile, avoid using it in highly technical settings. Consider alternatives like "narrow brook" or "thin waterway" depending on the desired emphasis. Using "slender stream" evokes a sense of gentleness and visual appeal when describing natural landscapes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

narrow brook

Focuses on the width of the stream rather than its delicate nature.

thin waterway

Emphasizes the narrowness and function as a water passage.

small rivulet

Highlights the diminutive size of the stream.

trickle of water

Highlights the very small amount of water flowing.

narrow flow

Focuses on the movement of water in a confined space.

gentle current

Highlights the mild and unhurried nature of the water's motion.

delicate cascade

Emphasizes the fragility and elegance of a small waterfall.

tiny creek

Highlights the small size and natural setting of the stream.

limited outflow

Focuses on the restricted volume of water being discharged.

meager course

Indicates a limited or insufficient path for the water to follow.

FAQs

What does "slender stream" mean?

The phrase "slender stream" refers to a narrow or thin body of flowing water. It suggests a gentle and delicate flow, often in a natural setting.

What can I say instead of "slender stream"?

You can use alternatives like "narrow brook", "thin waterway", or "small rivulet" to describe a similar feature.

Is "slender stream" a formal or informal term?

"Slender stream" is generally considered a neutral term, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, it is more frequently found in descriptive or literary writing rather than technical reports.

How can I use "slender stream" in a sentence?

You might say, "As we hiked through the forest, we crossed a "slender stream" that sparkled in the sunlight", to convey a picturesque scene.