streak Meaning, Definition & Usage

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

WordNet

Streak transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. Stretch, Streek.
Definitions
  1. To stretch; to extend; hence, to lay out, as a dead body. Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.
Streak noun
Etymology
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.
Definitions
  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.
Streak transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Streaked ; present participle & verbal noun Streaking
Definitions
  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 1913