Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense streaks, present participle streaking, past tense, past participle streaked
1. countable noun
A streak is a long stripe or mark on a surface which contrasts with the surface because itis a different colour.
There are these dark streaks on the surface of the moon.
The flames begin as a few streaks of red against the pale brown of the walls.
Synonyms: band, line, strip, stroke More Synonyms of streak
2. verb
If something streaks a surface, it makes long stripes or marks on the surface.
Rain had begun to streak the window-panes. [VERB noun]
Fine shades of grey streaked his dark hair. [VERB noun]
His face was pale and streaked with dirt. [beVERB-ed + with]
Synonyms: fleck, smear, daub, band More Synonyms of streak
-streakedcombining form in adjective
Her bare feet were dirt-streaked and cracked with cold.
...soot-streaked silver trains.
3. countable noun [usually singular]
If someone has a streak of a particular type of behaviour, they sometimes behave in that way.
We're both alike–there is a streak of madness in us both.
He's still got a mean streak.
Synonyms: trace, touch, element, strain More Synonyms of streak
4. verb
If something or someone streaks somewhere, they move there very quickly.
A meteorite streaked across the sky. [VERB preposition/adverb]
He got a near perfect start, streaking away from the pack. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: speed, fly, tear, sweep More Synonyms of streak
5. countable noun [adjective NOUN]
A winning streak or a lucky streak is a continuous series of successes, for example in gambling or sport. A losing streak or an unlucky streak is a series of failures or losses.
The casinos had better watch out since I'm obviously on a lucky streak!
...a losing streak that had extended back to June 1.
streak in British English1
(striːk)
noun
1.
a long thin mark, stripe, or trace of some contrasting colour
2.
a.
(of lightning) a sudden flash
b.
(as modifier)
streak lightning
3.
an element or trace, as of some quality or characteristic
4.
a strip, vein, or layer
fatty streaks
5.
a short stretch or run, esp of good or bad luck
6. mineralogy
the powdery mark made by a mineral when rubbed on a hard or rough surface: its colour is an important distinguishing characteristic
7. bacteriology
the inoculation of a solid culture medium by drawing a wire contaminated with the microorganisms across it
8. informal
an act or the practice of running naked through a public place
verb
9. (transitive)
to mark or daub with a streak or streaks
10. (intransitive)
to form streaks or become streaked
11. (intransitive)
to move rapidly in a straight line
12. (intransitive) informal
to run naked through a crowd of people in a public place in order to shock or amuse them
Derived forms
streaked
adjective
streaker (ˈstreaker)
noun
streaklike (ˈstreakˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
Old English strica, related to Old Frisian strike, Old High German strih, Norwegian, Swedish strika
streak in British English2
(striːk)
noun
a variant spelling of strake (sense 2)
streak in American English
(strik)
noun
1.
a line or long, thin mark; stripe or smear, generally differing in color or texture from the surrounding area
2.
a ray of light or a flash, as of lightning
3.
a vein or stratum of a mineral
4.
a layer, as of fat in meat
5.
a strain, element, or tendency in behavior, temperament, etc.; trait
a jealous streak
6. US
a period, spell, or series
a streak of bad luck, a streak of losses
7. Bacteriology
an inoculum placed, as in a line, on a solid culture medium
8. Mineralogy
a colored line of powder produced by rubbing a mineral over a hard, white surface (streak plate): it serves as a distinguishing character
verb transitive
9.
to make streaks on or in; mark with streaks
10.
to make usually lighter streaks in (hair) with a coloring agent
verb intransitive
11.
to form streaks; become streaked
12.
to move at high speed; go fast; hurry
13. US
to dash naked in public as a prank
Idioms:
like a streak
Derived forms
streaker (ˈstreaker)
noun
Word origin
ME streke < OE strica: for IE base see strike
More idioms containing
streak
talk a blue streak
COBUILD Collocations
streak
competitive streak
mean streak
nasty streak
rebellious streak
stubborn streak
Examples of 'streak' in a sentence
streak
It gives you instant colour with no streaks or stains.
The Sun (2012)
Should we expect another hot streak of form?
The Sun (2015)
We are definitely on a lucky streak.
The Sun (2015)
The large flowers have five notched pink petals with dark purple streaks on them.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She has a pink streak in her hair along her parting.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
How many streaks of lightning in each burst?
Porush, David A Short Guide to Writing About Science (1995)
My quick tongue and little mean streak kept them slightly fearful.
Christianity Today (2000)
It has been said that the figures reflect streaks of form rather than consistency.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This shows that a manager has had a couple of lucky streaks but cannot produce consistently good performance.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Take random sections from the bottom layer of your hair and apply the colour in streaks or just at the tips.
The Sun (2013)
Then panic streaks across her face.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The soil is streaked with red.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Still, he is on something of a streak.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
When we turned for home, we were able to streak away a little.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Perspective Woods has more important thoughts than continuing his winning streak.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There was a streak of the gambler in Horton.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They circle round once or twice, then streak away into the distance.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
She was wearing vaguely unbuttoned overalls, carrying a spanner and had oil streaks on her face.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
That's the medical term for a white streak in your hair.
The Sun (2015)
As soon as he realised he'd hit a winning streak he placed as many bets as the site would allow.
The Sun (2012)
In other languages
streak
British English: streak NOUN
A streak is a long stripe or mark on a surface which contrasts with the surface because it is a different colour.
There are these dark streaks on the surface of the moon.
American English: streak
Brazilian Portuguese: listra
Chinese: 条纹
European Spanish: veta
French: raie
German: Streifen
Italian: striscia
Japanese: 筋
Korean: > 줄바탕과 대조되는
European Portuguese: listra
Latin American Spanish: veta
All related terms of 'streak'
blue streak
anything regarded as like a streak of lightning in speed , vividness, etc.
mean streak
If someone has a streak of a particular type of behaviour, they sometimes behave in that way.
losing streak
a succession of losses or defeats
nasty streak
If someone has a streak of a particular type of behaviour , they sometimes behave in that way.
yellow streak
a cowardly or weak trait , characteristic, or flaw in a person's nature
stubborn streak
If someone has a streak of a particular type of behaviour, they sometimes behave in that way.
competitive streak
If someone has a streak of a particular type of behaviour, they sometimes behave in that way.
like a streak
at high speed ; swiftly
rebellious streak
If someone has a streak of a particular type of behaviour, they sometimes behave in that way.
streak lightning
lightning in which there is a sudden flash from what appears to be a single main line