Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

connection-oriented
     
         (Or connection-based, stream-oriented).  A type
        of {transport layer} data communication service that allows a
        {host} to send data in a continuous stream to another host.
        The transport service will guarantee that all data will be
        delivered to the other end in the same order as sent and
        without duplication.  Communication proceeds through three
        well-defined phases: connection establishment, data transfer,
        connection release.  The most common example is {Transmission
        Control Protocol} (TCP).
     
        Opposite of {connectionless}, {datagram}.  See also {circuit
        switching}, {packet switching}, {virtual circuit}.