timestream

See also: time stream

English

Alternative forms

• time stream

Etymology

time +‎ stream

Noun

timestream (plural timestreams)

1. (science fiction, mythology) A metaphorical conception of time as a stream, or flowing body of water.

   By killing his great-grandfather, the time traveller disrupted the timestream.

   • [1931 December, Eric Temple Bell, “The Time Stream”, in Wonder Stories:

     The slightest excess of effort might upset the balance at any point of the time stream, sending them backward into the past or forward into the future independently of my will.]

   • 1983, John Varley, Millennium:

     The timestream is littered with these blank areas.

   • 2011, Tom MacRae, “The Girl Who Waited”, in Nick Hurran, director, Doctor Who, season 6, episode 10, spoken by The Doctor (Matt Smith):

     Two different timestreams running parallel but at different speeds. Amy, you're in a faster timestream.

References

• Jesse Sheidlower, editor (2001–2024), “timestream, n.”, in Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction.