Definition

1. Noun:

   • A sudden flash (as of lightning): A brief, intense line or beam of light.
   • A narrow marking of a different color or texture from the background: A long, thin line, stripe, or band that contrasts with its surroundings.
   • A distinctive characteristic or tendency: A particular quality or trait in a person's character.
   • An unbroken series of events: A continuous period or sequence of similar occurrences, often related to success or failure.

2. Verb:

   • To mark with streaks: To cover or adorn with long, thin lines or marks of a different color or texture.
   • To move very quickly in a straight line: To go or pass swiftly and directly.
   • To run naked in a public place as a prank or stunt: (Informal) To participate in the act of streaking.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • A streak of lightning lit up the night sky.
  • The mineral sample had beautiful blue streaks running through it.
  • She has a competitive streak that makes her a great athlete.
  • The team is hoping to end their losing streak.

• Verb:

  • Tears streaked her face with mascara.
  • The jet streaked across the horizon, leaving a white trail.
  • (Informal) He was arrested for streaking across the football field.

Advanced Usage

• "a winning/losing streak": A continuous period of repeated wins or losses.
  • The casino gambler was on a remarkable winning streak.
• "like a streak (of lightning)": (Idiomatic) Extremely fast.
  • When he heard the ice cream truck, he ran out the door like a streak.
• "to talk a blue streak": (Idiomatic) To talk very rapidly and continuously.
  • She was so excited she talked a blue streak for ten minutes.

Variants and Related Words

• Streaky (adj): Marked with streaks; uneven or variable in quality.
  • The bacon was too streaky with fat.
  • He's a streaky shooter—amazing one game, terrible the next.
• Streaker (n): A person who runs naked in a public place.

Synonyms

• Noun: Stripe, band, vein, trait, characteristic, spell, run, series.
• Verb: Stripe, band, smear, blur, dash, race, speed, zoom.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms

• "a yellow streak": (Idiomatic) A trait of cowardice.
  • He showed a yellow streak when he refused to confront the problem.

Noun

1. a sudden flash (as of lightning)
2. 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
3. a distinctive characteristic
   • he has a stubborn streak
   • a streak of wildness
4. an unbroken series of events
   • had a streak of bad luck
   • Nicklaus had a run of birdies

Verb

1. mark with spots or blotches of different color or shades of color as if stained
2. run naked in a public place
3. move quickly in a straight line
   • The plane streaked across the sky