Adjacent Words

Streak definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

STREAK, n. [G., a stroke or stripe. L.]
1. A line or long mark, of a different color from the ground; a stripe.
What mean those colord streaks in heaven?
2. In a ship, a uniform range of planks on the side or bottom; sometimes pronounced strake.
STREAK, v.t.
1. To form streaks or stripes in; to stripe; to variegate with lines of a different color or of different colors.
A mule admirably streaked and dappled with white and black--
Now streakd and glowing with the morning red.
2. To stretch. [Not elegant.
STREAK, v.i. To run swiftly. [Vulgar in New England.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an unbroken series of events; "had a streak of bad luck"; "Nicklaus had a run of birdies" [syn: streak, run]
2: a distinctive characteristic; "he has a stubborn streak"; "a streak of wildness"
3: a narrow marking of a different color or texture from the background; "a green toad with small black stripes or bars"; "may the Stars and Stripes forever wave" [syn: stripe, streak, bar]
4: a sudden flash (as of lightning) v
1: move quickly in a straight line; "The plane streaked across the sky"
2: run naked in a public place
3: mark with spots or blotches of different color or shades of color as if stained [syn: mottle, streak, blotch]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English streke, from Old English strica; akin to Old High German strich line, Latin striga row — more at strike Date: before 12th century 1. a line or mark of a different color or texture from the ground ; stripe 2. a. the color of the fine powder of a mineral obtained by scratching or rubbing against a hard white surface and constituting an important distinguishing character b. inoculum implanted in a line on a solid medium c. any of numerous virus diseases of plants (as tobacco and maize) resembling mosaic but usually producing at least some linear markings 3. a. a narrow band of light b. a lightning bolt 4. a. a slight admixture ; trace <had a mean streak in him> b. a brief run (as of luck) c. a consecutive series <was on a winning streak> 5. a narrow layer (as of fat) 6. an act or instance of streaking II. verb Date: 1576 transitive verb to make streaks on or in <tears streaking her face> intransitive verb 1. to move swiftly ; rush <a jet streaking across the sky> 2. to have a streak (as of winning or outstanding performances) 3. to run naked through a public place • streaker noun

Britannica Concise

Color of a mineral in its powdered form, usually obtained by rubbing the mineral on a hard, white surface (e.g., a tile of unglazed porcelain) to yield a streak of fine powder. The streak's color is usually constant for a given mineral, even if the mineral varies in color as it occurs in the field or if the streak is different from the color of the unpowdered mineral. Streak is diagnostically useful because it may distinguish between mineral species that are otherwise similar in appearance.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a long thin usu. irregular line or band, esp. distinguished by colour (black with red streaks; a streak of light above the horizon). 2 a strain or element in a person's character (has a streak of mischief). 3 a spell or series (a winning streak). 4 a line of bacteria etc. placed on a culture medium. --v. 1 tr. mark with streaks. 2 intr. move very rapidly. 3 intr. colloq. run naked in a public place as a stunt. Phrases and idioms: streak of lightning a sudden prominent flash of lightning. Derivatives: streaker n. streaking n. Etymology: OE strica pen-stroke f. Gmc: rel. to STRIKE

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Streak Streak, v. t. [Cf. Stretch, Streek.] To stretch; to extend; hence, to lay out, as a dead body. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Streak Streak, n. [OE. streke; akin to D. streek a line, stroke, G. strich, AS. strica, Sw. strek, Dan. streg, Goth. stricks, and E. strike, stroke. See Strike, Stroke, n., and cf. Strake.] 1. A line or long mark of a different color from the ground; a stripe; a vein. What mean those colored streaks in heaven? --Milton. 2. (Shipbuilding) A strake. 3. (Min.) The fine powder or mark yielded by a mineral when scratched or rubbed against a harder surface, the color of which is sometimes a distinguishing character. 4. The rung or round of a ladder. [Obs.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Streak Streak, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Streaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Streaking.] 1. To form streaks or stripes in or on; to stripe; to variegate with lines of a different color, or of different colors. A mule . . . streaked and dappled with white and black. --Sandys. Now streaked and glowing with the morning red. --Prior. 2. With it as an object: To run swiftly. [Colloq.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Garboard Gar"board, n. (Naut.) One of the planks next the keel on the outside, which form a garboard strake. Garboard strake or streak, the first range or strake of planks laid on a ship's bottom next the keel. --Totten.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(streaks, streaking, streaked) 1. 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... The flames begin as a few streaks of red against the pale brown of the walls. N-COUNT 2. If something streaks a surface, it makes long stripes or marks on the surface. Rain had begun to streak the window-panes... His face was pale and streaked with dirt. VERB: V n, be V-ed with n 3. If someone has a streak of a particular type of behaviour, they sometimes behave in that way. He's still got a mean streak. N-COUNT: usu sing, with supp 4. If something or someone streaks somewhere, they move there very quickly. A meteorite streaked across the sky... = dart VERB: V prep/adv 5. 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! N-COUNT: adj N

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Stripe. 2. See strake. II. v. a. Stripe.

Moby Thesaurus

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