streak

A series of similar events or results with no break between them.

• The team is on a winning streak.
• That defeat ended our streak of six wins.
• Have you ever had such a long streak of bad luck?

How to use it: a streak of something (She had a streak of bad luck.)

Similar words: run, series

Common phrases: winning streak, losing streak, streak of luck

A narrow, uneven mark left when something is spread or moves across a surface.

• There is a streak on the window.
• The cloth left streaks across the glass.
• Tears made dark streaks down her dusty face.

How to use it: a streak of something (A streak of grease marked the plate.)

Similar words: smear, mark

Common phrases: leave a streak, streak of dirt, streak on glass

A particular quality that appears sometimes in a person or thing.

• He has a stubborn streak.
• Her independent streak makes her question every rule.
• Even the villain shows a streak of kindness.

How to use it: a streak of something (There is a streak of cruelty in his humor.)

Similar words: trait, tendency

Common phrases: stubborn streak, mean streak, streak of kindness

A long, narrow line of color, light, or another material.

• A streak of light crossed the sky.
• He has a white streak in his hair.
• Blue streaks ran through the stone.

How to use it: a streak of something (A streak of silver ran through her hair.)

Similar words: stripe, line, band

Common phrases: streak of light, white streak, streak of color

The color of the powder a mineral leaves when rubbed against a rough surface.

• This mineral has a red streak.
• The streak test helped us identify the sample.
• Its surface is dark, but its streak is brown.

Common phrases: streak test, mineral streak, red streak

A small moth with long pale markings on its brown wings.

• A streak landed near the lamp.
• We found a streak moth resting on a wall.
• The streak caterpillar feeds on broom.

Common phrases: streak moth, adult streak, streak caterpillar

To move very quickly across or through a place.

• A car streaked past us.
• The cat streaked across the garden.
• Bright meteors were streaking through the night sky.

How to use it: streak across something (A meteor streaked across the sky.); streak past someone/something (The cyclist streaked past us.)

Similar words: race, speed, dash

Common phrases: streak across something, streak past someone, streak through something

To develop long, narrow marks on a surface.

• This glass tends to streak.
• The paint streaked as it dried.
• Windows can streak if you clean them in strong sunlight.

Common phrases: glass can streak, windows streak easily, paint may streak