streak

streak

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
   a. A brief run or stretch, as of luck.
   b. 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.

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.

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.

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

Related Forms:

• streaker streakˈer noun