laminar flow

This term is primarily used in fluid dynamics and engineering to describe a regime where a fluid flows in parallel layers, with no disruption between them. It is the direct opposite of turbulent flow, which is characterized by chaotic changes in pressure and flow velocity. In a technical context, the transition from laminar to turbulent flow is often described by the Reynolds number.

Because it refers to a specific physical state or phenomenon of fluid movement, it is treated as an uncountable noun. It does not typically take a plural form in scientific literature, as it describes a quality of the flow rather than a discrete object.