scream

n 1: sharp piercing cry [syn: {screaming}, {shriek}, {shrieking},

{screech}, {screeching}]

2: a high-pitched noise resembling a human cry; "he ducked at

the screechings of shells"; "he heard the scream of the

brakes" [syn: {screech}, {screeching}, {shriek}, {shreiking},

{screaming}]

3: a joke that seems extremely funny [syn: {belly laugh}, {sidesplitter},

{howler}, {thigh-slapper}, {wow}, {riot}]

v 1: utter a sudden loud cry; "she cried with pain when the

doctor inserted the needle"; "I yelled to her from the

window but she couldn't hear me" [syn: {shout}, {shout

out}, {cry}, {call}, {yell}, {holler}, {hollo}, {squall}]

2: utter or declare in a very loud voice; "You don't have to

yell--I can hear you just fine" [syn: {yell}]

3: make a loud, piercing sound; "Fighter planes are screaming

through the skies"

STREAMS

A collection of {system calls}, {kernel}

resources, and kernel utility routines that can create, use,

and dismantle a {stream}. A "stream head" provides the

interface between the stream and the user processes. Its

principal function is to process STREAMS-related user system

calls. A "stream module" processes data that travel bewteen

the stream head and driver. The "stream end" provides the

services of an external input/output device or an internal

software driver. The internal software driver is commonly

called a {pseudo-device} driver.

The STREAMS concept has been formalised in {Unix} {System V}.

For example, {SVR4} implements {sockets} and {pipes} using

STREAMS, resulting in pipe(2) openning bidirectional pipes.

[IBM AIX 3.2 Communication Programming Concepts, SC23-2206-03].

(1999-06-29)