streak

1 of 2

noun

ˈstrēk 

1

: a line or mark of a different color or texture from the background : stripe

2

a

: a narrow band of light

the first stripes of dawn

b

: a lightning bolt

3

a

: a quality that is noticeable especially because it is different from other qualities

had a mean streak in him

b

: a brief run (as of luck)

c

: a consecutive series

was on a winning streak

4

: a narrow layer (as of ore or fat)

5

: an act or instance of streaking

6

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 characteristic

b

: inoculum implanted in a line on a solid medium

c

: any of numerous virus diseases of plants (such as tobacco and corn) resembling mosaic but usually producing at least some linear markings

streak

2 of 2

verb

streaked; streaking; streaks

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

Synonyms of streak

Noun

• stripe

Verb

• stripe

Examples of streak in a Sentence

Noun

He left streaks where he wiped the glass.

The miners had streaks of coal dust on their faces.

a streak of 11 straight victories

Verb

A shooting star streaked across the sky.

A skateboarder streaked past us.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Seattle Kraken visit the Colorado Avalanche looking to break a five-game road losing streak. —ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026

The Clippers rallied from a chaotic 6-21 start to finish 42-40 in this once-woebegone franchise's 15th consecutive winning season — the NBA's longest active streak. —CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026

Verb

Crumbs from Comet Thatcher While hardly a rich display like the famous August Perseids or December Geminids, the April Lyrids are brilliant and appear to move fairly fast, appearing to streak through our atmosphere at 30 miles (48 km) per second. —Joe Rao, Space.com, 19 Apr. 2026

The agency found that gases had gotten trapped inside portions of the heat shield while the capsule was streaking through the atmosphere, allowing pressure to accumulate. —Denise Chow, NBC news, 14 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English streke, from Old English strica; akin to Old High German strich line, Latin striga row — more at strike

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1576, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing streak

• blue streak
• hot streak
• mean streak
• on a hot streak
• primitive streak
• rebellious streak
• streak camera
• stubborn streak
• talk a blue streak
• winning/losing streak

Rhymes for streak

• beak
• beek
• bleak
• cheek
• chic
• clique
• creak
• creek
• eke
• freak
• geek
• greek

Kids Definition

streak

1 of 2 noun

ˈstrēk 

1

: a line or mark of a different color or texture from its background : stripe

2

: the color of the fine powder of a mineral obtained by scratching or rubbing against a hard white surface

3

a

: a narrow band of light

b

: a lightning bolt

4

a

: a small amount : trace, strain

streak of stubbornness

b

: a brief period or series

a streak of luck

was on a winning streak

5

: a narrow layer

a streak of fat in bacon

streak

2 of 2 verb

1

: to make or have streaks on or in

2

: to move swiftly : rush

a jet streaking across the sky

Medical Definition

streak

1 of 2 noun

ˈstrēk 

1

: a usually irregular line or stripe see primitive streak

2

: inoculum implanted (as with a needle drawn across the surface) in a line on a solid medium

streak

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to implant (inoculum) in a line on a solid medium