From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishstreakstreak1 /striːk/ ●●○ noun [countable] 1 LINEa coloured line, especially one that is not straight or has been made accidentally Sue has blonde streaks in her hair.2 CHARACTER/PERSONALITYa part of someone’s character that is different from the rest of their character a mean streakstreak of His serious nature was lightened by a streak of mischief.3 SERIESa period of time during which you continue to be successful or to failbe on a winning/losing streak Celtic are on a six-game winning streak.4 → streak of lightning/fire/light etc
Examples from the Corpus
streak• Suddenly it flew - a streak of brilliant yellow.• My father has a streak of heroism in him that I admire.• a streak of bad luck• There is obviously an ambitious streak in me but I do realise that I am still very young and inexperienced.• Karen's dress had a big streak of red wine down the front.• Many people have condemned Herod as a cruel man and certainly he showed a cruel streak, especially towards his own family.• The three women were wreaking havoc with their guns that fired streaks of light.• Nancy dyes her hair to hide the gray streaks.• There were gray streaks in her hair.• She had a mean streak that she didn't bother to hide.• The storm moved west in blue-white rattling streaks.• Only the Iron Virgin seemed to harbor a romantic streak.• Amelia was a good student, but bright as she was, her strong streak of independence did not go unremarked.• a stubborn streak• "What have you been doing?'' asked his mother, pointing at the streaks of dried mud on his arms and legs.• The District Attorney argued that Johnson has a violent streak and is a danger to society.• Her hair was brown, with streaks of gold.be on a winning/losing streak• The Cottesloe is on a winning streak because it also has Uncle Vanya, with a host of fine performances.• He was on a winning streak tonight.• Clear as day - I was on a winning streak, I'd hit a seam.• The modern team are on a losing streak and are propping up Division One.streakstreak2 verb 1 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]FAST/QUICK to run or fly somewhere so fast you can hardly be seenstreak across/along/down etc Two jets streaked across the sky.2 [transitive]COVER to cover something with lines of colour, liquid etc The sky was streaked yellow and purple.be streaked with His hands and arms were streaked with paint.Grammar Streak is usually passive in this meaning.3 [intransitive]NAKED to run across a public place with no clothes on as a joke or in order to shock people→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
streak• Two aircraft streaked across the sky.• A sleek cat streaked across the top of the wall and was gone.• I caught a glimpse of a man streaking away into the shadows.• The fog flickered around him, streaking like lightning low to the ground, or mute cannon fire.• The evening sky was streaked red and orange.• The comets that streaked the skies and scared the ancients were powered by Fenna's breath.• I remember it as if I were still standing there, streaked with blood and dust and tears, talking to her.• He crawls out, his face streaked with oil, and dries himself with a rag.• My own shirt was streaked with perspiration stains from the same walk.• His face and uniform were streaked with red.• Soon we are streaked with sweat and mud.streak across/along/down etc• There were dark streaks down her cheeks.• The rain had smudged my sooty mascara and it was streaked down my cheek.• One applet sent lovely blue raindrops streaking across my screen.• Tracheal irritation - a raw streak down the centre of the upper chest.• Sea heaps up and white foam from breaking waves begins to be blown in streaks along the direction of the wind.• The planes came streaking across the sky over Tempe with all the world watching.• A sleek cat streaked across the top of the wall and was gone.be streaked with• By the end of the trip, my shirt was streaked with perspiration.Origin streak1 Old English strica 