Definition of streamline

The word "streamline" has its origins in the early 20th century, particularly in the fields of engineering and industrial design. The term was coined in the 1920s by American engineer Alexander Fleming Jr. and Fabian Hurd, a designer and engineer at Studebaker Corporation. Fleming and Hurd used the term to describe the process of aerodynamically shaping a design to reduce air resistance and increase efficiency. They drew inspiration from the smooth, fluid motion of a stream, observing that objects shaped like a stream's flow of water could cut through the air with minimal resistance. The term gained popularity in the 1930s and 1940s as aircraft and car manufacturers began to adopt the concept of streamlining to improve their designs. Today, the word "streamline" is widely used to describe any design or process that seeks to optimize efficiency, reduce resistance, and achieve a smoother, more streamlined appearance.