The meaning of Streak

noun

A flat, thin strip or loop of material, used as a fastener, for reinforcement, or as decoration.

Usage examples:

Wads of banknotes fastened with gummed paper bands

verb

Provide or fit (an object) with something in the form of a strip or ring, for reinforcement or decoration.

Usage examples:

Doors are banded with iron to make them stronger

verb

(of people or organizations) form a group to achieve a mutual objective.

Usage examples:

Local people banded together to fight the company

noun

A long rigid piece of wood, metal, or similar material, typically used as an obstruction, fastening, or weapon.

Usage examples:

An iron bar

verb

Fasten (something, especially a door or window) with a bar or bars.

Usage examples:

She bolted and barred the door

preposition

Except for.

Usage examples:

His kids were all gone now, bar one

noun

A strip of leather or other material worn, typically round the waist, to support or hold in clothes or to carry weapons.

Usage examples:

He tightened his leather belt an extra notch

verb

Fasten with a belt.

Usage examples:

She belted her raincoat firmly

noun

A strip of leather or other material worn around the waist

Usage examples:

A black leather belt, the corn belt (= area known for growing corn), he belted the ball out of the …

noun

A large irregular patch or unsightly mark on the skin or another surface.

Usage examples:

Red blotches on her face

verb

Cover with blotches.

Usage examples:

Her face was blotched and swollen with crying

noun

An unwanted mark on a surface that is different from the surrounding area

Usage examples:

There were red blotches on her face and neck.

noun

A bar that slides into a socket to fasten a door or window.

Usage examples:

He reached through the hole in the door and slid the bolt on the inside.

verb

Fasten (a door or window) with a bar that slides into a socket.

Usage examples:

All the doors were locked and bolted

verb

(of a horse or other animal) run away suddenly, typically from fear.

Usage examples:

The horses shied and bolted

verb

Walk or run with leaping strides.

Usage examples:

Louis came bounding down the stairs

noun

A leaping movement towards or over something.

Usage examples:

I went up the steps in two effortless bounds

verb

Form the boundary of; enclose.

Usage examples:

The ground was bounded by a main road on one side and a meadow on the other

noun

An occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progress.

Usage examples:

He seemed destined for a career as an engineer like his father

verb

Move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way.

Usage examples:

The coach careered across the road and went through a hedge

noun

A job for which you are trained and in which it is possible to advance during your working life, so that you get greater responsibility and earn more money

Usage examples:

He’s hoping for a career in social work., she left college to pursue an acting career., the bus car…

adjective

Typical of a particular person, place, or thing.

Usage examples:

He began with a characteristic attack on extremism

noun

A feature or quality belonging typically to a person, place, or thing and serving to identify them.

Usage examples:

Certain defining characteristics of the school emerge from the study

verb

Demand (an amount) as a price for a service rendered or goods supplied.

Usage examples:

Wedding planners may charge an hourly fee of up to £150

noun

A price asked for goods or services.

Usage examples:

Our standard charge for a letter is £25

noun

An ambassador's deputy.

noun

A small pointed missile that can be thrown or fired.

Usage examples:

The classroom was littered with paper darts

verb

Move or run somewhere suddenly or rapidly.

Usage examples:

She darted across the street

verb

A sudden quick movement

verb

Run or travel somewhere in a great hurry.

Usage examples:

I dashed into the garden

exclamation

Used to express mild annoyance.

Usage examples:

Dash it all, i am in charge

noun

An act of running somewhere suddenly and hastily.

Usage examples:

She made a dash for the door

verb

Carelessly coat or smear (a surface) with a thick or sticky substance.

Usage examples:

The walls were daubed with splashes of paint

noun

A patch or smear of a thick or sticky substance.

Usage examples:

A daub of paint

verb

Plunge head first into water with one's arms raised over one's head.

Usage examples:

She walked to the deep end, then she dived in

noun

A plunge head first into water.

Usage examples:

He hit the sea in a shallow dive

verb

A headlong plunge into water

noun

An essential or characteristic part of something abstract.

Usage examples:

The death had all the elements of a great tabloid story

noun

One of the parts of something that makes it work, or a quality that makes someone or something effective

Usage examples:

The heating element of a toaster, having a second income is an important element for most home buye…

noun

Each of the four slender jointed parts attached to either hand (or five, if the thumb is included).

Usage examples:

She raked her hair back with her fingers

verb

Touch or feel with the fingers.

Usage examples:

The thin man fingered his moustache

verb

Any of the terminal members of the hand

noun

A very small patch of colour or light.

Usage examples:

His blue eyes had grey flecks in them

verb

Mark or dot with small patches of colour or particles of something.

Usage examples:

The minarets are flecked with gold leaf

noun

A small mark, esp. of a different color

Usage examples:

I got a few flecks of paint on the window when i was painting the frames., her hair is flecked with…

verb

(of a bird, bat, or insect) move through the air using wings.

Usage examples:

Close the door or the moths will fly in

noun

An opening at the crotch of a pair of trousers, closed with a zip or buttons and typically covered with a flap.

Usage examples:

Interesting alternatives are velcro straps or, if the shorts fit perfectly, stylish button flies.

noun

A flying insect of a large order characterized by a single pair of transparent wings and sucking (and often also piercing) mouthparts. flies are of great importance as vectors of disease.

Usage examples:

Almost 40 years ago ed lewis discovered a remarkable fly that differs from an ordinary fly by one e…

noun

A very unusual and unexpected event or situation.

Usage examples:

The teacher says the accident was a total freak

verb

Behave or cause to behave in a wild and irrational way, typically because of the effects of extreme emotion or drugs.

Usage examples:

He freaked out and smashed the place up

adjective

Extremely unusual or unlikely

Usage examples:

She died in a freak automobile accident., a freak midsummer hailstorm caught us all by surprise., m…

noun

The fastest pace of a horse or other quadruped, with all the feet off the ground together in each stride.

Usage examples:

The horse broke into a furious gallop

verb

(of a horse) go at the pace of a gallop.

Usage examples:

We galloped along the sand

verb

A fast gait of a horse

noun

A fast-running, long-eared mammal that resembles a large rabbit, having very long hind legs and typically found in grassland or open woodland.

Usage examples:

European game animals include various deer, wild boar, hare, and rabbit.

verb

Run with great speed.

Usage examples:

He hared off between the trees

verb

Move or cause to move at high speed, typically in an uncontrolled manner.

Usage examples:

A runaway car hurtled towards them

verb

Move with or as if with a rushing sound

verb

To move very fast, esp. in what seems a dangerous way

Usage examples:

The truck hurtled along at breakneck speed.

noun

A narrow road, especially in a rural area.

Usage examples:

She drove along the winding lane

noun

One of two or more marked paths in a road to keep vehicles traveling in the same direction a safe distance apart

Usage examples:

That section of interstate 95 is a four-lane highway, with two northbound lanes and two southbound …

noun

A long, narrow mark or band.

Usage examples:

A row of closely spaced dots will look like a continuous line

verb

Stand or be positioned at intervals along.

Usage examples:

A processional route lined by people waving flags

verb

Cover the inside surface of (a container or garment) with a layer of different material.

Usage examples:

A basket lined with polythene

noun

A small area on a surface having a different colour from its surroundings, typically one caused by damage or dirt.

Usage examples:

The blow left a red mark down one side of her face

verb

Make a visible impression or stain on.

Usage examples:

He fingered the photograph gently, careful not to mark it

noun

(until the introduction of the euro in 2002) the basic monetary unit of germany, equal to 100 pfennig; a deutschmark.

Usage examples:

Germany spent billions of marks to save the french franc from speculators

verb

Hurl missiles repeatedly at.

Usage examples:

Two boys pelted him with rotten apples

noun

An act of hurling something at someone.

noun

The skin of an animal with the fur, wool, or hair still on it.

Usage examples:

Traders brought reindeer pelts

noun

An instrument for writing or drawing, consisting of a thin stick of graphite or a similar substance enclosed in a long thin piece of wood or fixed in a cylindrical case.

Usage examples:

Have a pencil and paper ready

verb

Write, draw, or colour with a pencil.

Usage examples:

A previous owner has pencilled their name inside the cover

noun

A thin, usually wooden, tube-shaped device for writing or drawing which has colored material in the center and a point at one end

Usage examples:

[ c ] colored pencils, [ u ] make your corrections in pencil (= using a pencil).

verb

Jump or dive quickly and energetically.

Usage examples:

Our little daughters whooped as they plunged into the sea

noun

An act of jumping or diving into water.

Usage examples:

Fanatics went straight from the hot room to take a cold plunge

verb

Dash violently or with great speed or impetuosity

noun

A competition between runners, horses, vehicles, etc. to see which is the fastest in covering a set course.

Usage examples:

Hill started from pole position and won the race

verb

Compete with another or others to see who is fastest at covering a set course or achieving an objective.

Usage examples:

The vet took blood samples from the horses before they raced

noun

Each of the major groupings into which humankind is considered (in various theories or contexts) to be divided on the basis of physical characteristics or shared ancestry.

Usage examples:

People of all races, colours, and creeds

noun

Each of the lines in which light (and heat) may seem to stream from the sun or any luminous body, or pass through a small opening.

Usage examples:

A ray of sunlight came through the window

verb

Spread from or as if from a central point.

Usage examples:

Delicate lines rayed out at each corner of her eyes

noun

A broad flat marine or freshwater fish with a cartilaginous skeleton, winglike pectoral fins, and a long slender tail. many rays have venomous spines or electric organs.

Usage examples:

Participants will dive amidst one of europe's largest collection of sharks, as well as 2000 other f…

verb

Move at a speed faster than a walk, never having both or all the feet on the ground at the same time.

Usage examples:

The dog ran across the road

noun

An act or spell of running.

Usage examples:

I usually go for a run in the morning

verb

Move fast by using one's feet

verb

Move with urgent haste.

Usage examples:

Oliver rushed after her

noun

A sudden quick movement towards something, typically by a number of people.

Usage examples:

There was a rush for the door

noun

An erect, tufted marsh or waterside plant resembling a sedge or grass, with inconspicuous greenish or brownish flowers. widely distributed in temperate areas, some kinds are used for matting, chair seats, and baskets.

Usage examples:

Then the land went down, and there was marsh of rushes and willow and hazel.

verb

(especially of a small animal or child) run with quick light steps, especially through fear or excitement.

Usage examples:

He scampered in like an overgrown puppy

noun

An act of scampering.

Usage examples:

He heard the squeak and scamper of rats

verb

Run or move about quickly or lightly

verb

Go or leave somewhere quickly.

Usage examples:

They scooted off on their bikes

verb

Run or move very quickly or hastily

verb

Make one's way quickly or awkwardly up a steep gradient or over rough ground by using one's hands as well as one's feet.

Usage examples:

We scrambled over the damp boulders

noun

A difficult or hurried clamber up or over something.

Usage examples:

An undignified scramble over the wall

verb

To move or climb quickly but with difficulty, often using the hands

Usage examples:

She scrambled to safety away from the fighting., [ + to infinitive ] fig. poultry farmers scrambled…

verb

(of a person or small animal) move hurriedly with short quick steps.

Usage examples:

Pedestrians scurried for cover

noun

A situation of hurried and confused movement.

Usage examples:

I was in such a scurry

noun

A metal container with a handle, used to fetch and store coal for a domestic fire.

Usage examples:

Carrying endless scuttles of coal up from the cellar

verb

Run hurriedly or furtively with short quick steps.

Usage examples:

A mouse scuttled across the floor

noun

An act or sound of scuttling.

Usage examples:

I heard the scuttle of rats across the room

verb

Kill or wound (a person or animal) with a bullet or arrow.

Usage examples:

He was shot in the leg during an armed robbery

noun

A young branch or sucker springing from the main stock of a tree or other plant.

Usage examples:

He nipped off the new shoots that grew where the leaves joined the stems

exclamation

Variant spelling of chute1.

verb

Cut with a wide, sweeping movement, typically using a knife or sword.

Usage examples:

For what felt like hours we climbed behind the trackers slashing the undergrowth ahead

noun

A wide, sweeping stroke made with a knife or sword.

Usage examples:

The man took a mighty slash at his head with a large sword

conjunction

An oblique stroke (/) in print or writing, used between alternatives (e.g. and/or ), in fractions (e.g. 3/4 ), in ratios (e.g. miles/day ), or between separate elements of a text.

Usage examples:

Sentence breaks are highlighted by slashes

verb

Coat or mark (something) messily or carelessly with a greasy or sticky substance.

Usage examples:

His face was smeared with dirt

noun

A mark or streak of a greasy or sticky substance.

Usage examples:

There was an oil smear on his jacket

verb

Smudge or soil by smudging

verb

Cause (something) to become messily smeared by rubbing it.

Usage examples:

She dabbed her eyes, careful not to smudge her make-up

noun

A blurred or smeared mark on the surface of something.

Usage examples:

A smudge of blood on the floor

noun

A smoky outdoor fire that is lit to keep off insects or protect plants against frost.

Usage examples:

Discussions of the merits of various smudges at keeping bugs at bay

noun

The rate at which someone or something moves or operates or is able to move or operate.

Usage examples:

We turned on to the runway and began to gather speed

verb

Move quickly.

Usage examples:

I got into the car and home we sped

noun

(a) rate at which something moves or happens

Usage examples:

[ c ] a speed of 25 miles per hour, [ u ] both cars were traveling at high speed., [ u ] they came …

noun

A large blob or smear of something; a splotch.

Usage examples:

A splodge of strawberry jam

verb

Mark with a large blob or smear of something.

Usage examples:

Her coat was splodged with paint

noun

A mark or spot that does not have a regular shape

Usage examples:

He put his hand on the bed, and left a splodge of blood on the bedspread.

noun

A blob or smear of something, typically a liquid.

Usage examples:

A splotch of red in a larger area of yellow

verb

Mark with a blot or smear of something.

Usage examples:

The white tablecloth was splotched with red wine

noun

A mark or spot with an irregular shape

Usage examples:

The rash showed as red splotches on her face.

verb

Run at full speed over a short distance.

Usage examples:

I saw charlie sprinting through the traffic towards me

noun

An act or short spell of running at full speed.

Usage examples:

Greg broke into a sprint

verb

Run very fast, usually for a short distance

verb

Mark or discolour with something that is not easily removed.

Usage examples:

Her clothing was stained with blood

noun

A coloured patch or dirty mark that is difficult to remove.

Usage examples:

There were mud stains on my shoes

verb

To leave a mark on something that is difficult to remove, or to become colored or spoiled by a mark

Usage examples:

[ t ] strawberry juice stained my shirt., [ i ] this carpet is practical because it doesn’t stain e…

verb

Force (a part of one's body or oneself) to make an unusually great effort.

Usage examples:

I stopped and listened, straining my ears for any sound

noun

A force tending to pull or stretch something to an extreme or damaging degree.

Usage examples:

The usual type of chair puts an enormous strain on the spine

noun

A particular breed, stock, or variety of an animal or plant.

Usage examples:

Australia has been trying to breed better strains of plants and animals for ever.

noun

A linear mark, slight ridge, or groove on a surface, often one of a number of similar parallel features.

Usage examples:

Evidence for these glaciers in the park is in the form of roches moutonées, rock erratics, striae a…

noun

A stripe or line in body tissue, for example in muscles

adjective

Marked with striae.

Usage examples:

The striate cortex

verb

Mark with striae.

Usage examples:

You can emboss, pierce, or striate wood

noun

A long, thin streak, ridge, or groove on a surface, often one of many similar parallel marks.

Usage examples:

Interesting striations in the rock walls beg a closer look

noun

A pattern of lines or grooves on the surface of something

verb

Remove all coverings from.

Usage examples:

They stripped the bed

noun

An act of undressing, especially in a striptease.

Usage examples:

She got drunk and did a strip on top of the piano

noun

A long, narrow piece of cloth, paper, plastic, or some other material.

Usage examples:

A strip of linen

noun

A long, narrow band or strip differing in colour or texture from the surface on either side of it.

Usage examples:

A pair of blue shorts with pink stripes

verb

Mark with stripes.

Usage examples:

Her body was striped with bands of sunlight

noun

An act of hitting or striking someone or something; a blow.

Usage examples:

He received three strokes of the cane

verb

Move one's hand with gentle pressure over (a surface), typically repeatedly; caress.

Usage examples:

He put his hand on her hair and stroked it

verb

A single complete movement

verb

Pull (something) apart or to pieces with force.

Usage examples:

I tore up the letter

noun

A hole or split in something caused by it having been pulled apart forcefully.

Usage examples:

There was a tear in her dress

verb

(of the eye) produce tears.

Usage examples:

The freezing wind made her eyes tear

verb

Come into or be in contact with.

Usage examples:

He leaned back so that only two legs of his chair touched the floor

noun

An act of touching someone or something.

Usage examples:

Her touch on his shoulder was hesitant

verb

Make physical contact with, come in contact with

verb

Find or discover by investigation.

Usage examples:

Police are trying to trace a white van seen in the area

noun

A mark, object, or other indication of the existence or passing of something.

Usage examples:

Remove all traces of the old adhesive

noun

Each of the two side straps, chains, or ropes by which a horse is attached to a vehicle that it is pulling.

Usage examples:

The horses pulling the carriage suddenly snapped the traces and bolted off

noun

A distinguishing quality or characteristic, typically one belonging to a person.

Usage examples:

The traditionally british trait of self-denigration

noun

Any of the tubes forming part of the blood circulation system of the body, carrying in most cases oxygen-depleted blood towards the heart.

Usage examples:

This puts the full weight of your uterus on your back and on the major vein that carries blood betw…

noun

A tube that carries blood to the heart from the other parts of the body

Usage examples:

A vein of iron ore, she published many novels and stories in the romantic vein then popular.

verb

Take or move (someone or something) somewhere suddenly and quickly.

Usage examples:

He whisked her off to paris for a few days

noun

A utensil for whipping eggs or cream.

Usage examples:

It doesn't take as long a time as you'd think to whip cream with a whisk.

noun

A mixer incorporating a coil of wires

verb

Destroy or obliterate.

Usage examples:

Zap the enemy's artillery before it can damage your core units

noun

A sudden effect or event that makes a dramatic impact, especially a sudden burst of energy or sound.

Usage examples:

The eggs get an extra zap of uv light

verb

A sudden event that imparts energy or excitement, usually with a dramatic impact

verb

Move or travel very quickly.

Usage examples:

He jumped into his car and zoomed off

noun

A camera shot that changes smoothly from a long shot to a close-up or vice versa.

Usage examples:

As a result, instead of the clean visuals that typify the science fiction genre, we see lens flares…

exclamation

Used to express sudden fast movement.

Usage examples:

Then suddenly, zoom!, he's off