1
: a line or mark of a different color or texture from the ground : stripe
2
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 character
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
3
a
: a narrow band of light
b
: a lightning bolt
4
a
: a slight admixture : trace
had a mean streak in him
b
: a brief run (as of luck)
c
: a consecutive series
was on a winning streak
5
: a narrow layer (as of fat)
6
: an act or instance of streaking
streaked; streaking; streaks
: to make streaks on or in
tears streaking her face
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
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
Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2025
There’s also a winning streak on the line — KU has won 40 consecutive home finales.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2025
Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
On his second goal of the night, Cabral streaked just a little farther from the goal than Navarro, took a defender with him and opened a pocket of space through which Larraz played a perfect pass for an emphatic finish by Navarro.
—Braidon Nourse, The Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for streak
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Noun
All had been lifted by 7:30 p.m. Videos shared with the South Florida Sun Sentinel taken in Delray Beach and near Fort Lauderdale’s beach show clusters of fiery, sparkling streaks falling, resembling meteors and fireworks.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2025
There’s also a winning streak on the line — KU has won 40 consecutive home finales.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
Hollywood producer Allan Carr, who would go on to produce Grease, even hired Opel to streak through a party for Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev.
—Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
On his second goal of the night, Cabral streaked just a little farther from the goal than Navarro, took a defender with him and opened a pocket of space through which Larraz played a perfect pass for an emphatic finish by Navarro.
—Braidon Nourse, The Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for streak
Cite this Entry
“Streak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/streak. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
streak
1 of 2 noun1
: 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
5
: a narrow layer
a streak of fat in bacon
streak
2 of 2 verb1
: 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 noun1
: 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
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