streaked


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streak

 (strēk)
n.
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 sample of microorganisms that has been introduced into a solid culture medium by a needle drawn across its surface.
v. streaked, streak·ing, streaks
v.tr.
1. To mark with streaks: rain streaking the pavement.
2. To make streaks of a different, usually lighter color in (hair) using a chemical preparation.
3. Microbiology To inoculate (a culture medium) with a streak.
v.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.

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

streak′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adj.1.streaked - marked with or as if with stripes or linear discolorations; "streaked hair"; "fat legs and dirty streaky faces"
patterned - having patterns (especially colorful patterns)
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
References in classic literature ?
"We just STREAKED it," was the way Charley told it afterward, and I think his description comes nearer than any I can give.
It was a beautiful shiny yellow, streaked with red.
The Parvis was filled with a thick smoke, which the musketry streaked with flame.
While it hung there, the moon rose in the east, as big as a cart-wheel, pale silver and streaked with rose colour, thin as a bubble or a ghost-moon.