spreading

adj 1: spreading over a wide area; "under the spreading chestnut

tree"; "the spreading circle of lamplight";

"wide-spreading branches" [syn: {wide-spreading}]

2: resembling a bush in being thickly branched and spreading

[syn: {bushy}, {spreading(a)}]

3: spreading by diffusion [syn: {diffusing(a)}, {diffusive}, {dispersive},

{disseminative}, {disseminating}, {scattering}]

n 1: process or result of distributing or extending over a wide

expanse of space [syn: {spread}]

2: opening to public discussion and debate [syn: {dissemination},

{airing}, {circulation}, {public exposure}]

3: act of extending over a wider scope or expanse of space or

time [syn: {spread}]

streaming

Playing {sound} or {video} in {real time} as

it is downloaded over the {Internet} as opposed to storing it

in a local file first. A {plug-in} to a {web browser} such as

{Netscape Navigator} decompresses and plays the data as it is

transferred to your computer over the {World-Wide Web}.

Streaming audio or video avoids the delay entailed in

downloading an entire file and then playing it with a {helper

application}. Streaming requires a fast connection and a

computer powerful enough to execute the decompression

{algorithm} in {real time}.

(1996-11-06)