a method of transmitting or receiving data (especially video and audio material) over a computer network as a steady, continuous flow, allowing playback to start while the rest of the data is still being received.
Whether it’s subscribed, “purchased” or free, if you don’t have the full file to copy and do what you want with it, it’s streaming.
You can buy individual movies on Amazon without a subscription. This doesn’t mean you own it. If they stop hosting it, it’s gone.
But that is where the difference is, that’s not streaming or at least not as the term is used. That was a purchase of a specific title.
Whether it’s subscribed, “purchased” or free, if you don’t have the full file to copy and do what you want with it, it’s streaming.