Definition of streak

< Strayhorn, William

streaky >

streak    (strk) KEY 

NOUN:

1. A line, mark, smear, or band differentiated by color or texture from its surroundings.
2. An inherent, often contrasting quality: "There was a streak of wildness in him" (Olga Carlisle).
3. A ray or flash of light: the first streaks of dawn; a streak of lightning.
4. Informal
   1. A brief run or stretch, as of luck.
   2. An unbroken series, as of wins or losses.
5. Mineralogy The color of the fine powder produced when a mineral is rubbed against a hard surface. Used as a distinguishing characteristic.
6. Botany Any of various viral diseases of plants characterized by the appearance of discolored stripes on the leaves or stems.
7. Microbiology A bacterial culture inoculated by drawing a bacteria-laden needle across the surface of a solid culture medium.

VERB:
streaked, streak·ing, streaks
VERB:
tr.

1. To mark with streaks: rain streaking the pavement.
2. To lighten (strands of hair) with a chemical preparation.
3. Microbiology To inoculate in order to produce a streak.

VERB:
intr.

1. To form streaks.
2. To be or become streaked.
3. To move at high speed; rush.
4. To run naked in public, especially as a prank.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English streke, line, from Old English strica; see streig- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
streaker(Noun)

SYNONYMS:
streak, strain², vein

These nouns denote an inherent, often unexpected quality, as in a person's character: a streak of humor; a strain of melancholy; a vein of stubbornness.