A narrow line or band of colour or light, a record of consecutive occurrences such as a winning or habit streak, the act of moving quickly in a straight line or of running naked, and a noticeable personal trait.
To dash through a public place while naked, typically as a prank or protest.
Usage
Use streak in slang to describe dashing naked through a public place, often as a prank or protest. It is informal and may be seen as shocking; it is not a polite or formal action. Compared with milder alternatives like flash, streak is blunter and conveys a more provocative act.
Examples
He streaked across the campus naked at midnight.
She streaked through the mall while everyone stared.
The group streaked the beach as a dare.
A teenager streaked the subway car during a prank.
They streaked the park as part of a protest.
He was caught after he streaked the downtown square.
The video showed her streaking through the festival.
Common mistakes
The slang sense is often confused with ordinary fast running and verb forms are mis‑inflected.
Incorrect
Correct
He streaked the park last night.
He streaked the park naked last night.
She streaked to catch the bus.
She streaked through the mall naked.
They streaked the event.
They streaked the festival naked.
He streak the beach.
He streaks the beach naked.
Similar words
run naked
go streaking
Distinctive trait
noun
social
neutral
A noticeable tendency or characteristic that runs through a person's behavior, such as a streak of kindness.
Usage
Use streak for a noticeable personal characteristic that runs through someone's behavior, such as a streak of kindness.
Examples
She has a streak of kindness that shows in every interaction.
His streak of curiosity drives him to explore new topics.
The artist's streak of bold colors defines her style.
A streak of optimism kept the team motivated.
His streak of sarcasm can be off‑putting.
The writer's streak of melancholy appears in her poems.
Her streak of determination helped her finish the marathon.
Common mistakes
Subject‑verb agreement and mixing this sense with the colour‑line sense cause errors.
Incorrect
Correct
She have a streak of generosity.
She has a streak of generosity.
The streak on his shirt was bright.
She has a streak of generosity.
He is known for a streak of in kindness.
He is known for a streak of kindness.
The streak helped identify the mineral.
His streak of kindness made her popular.
Similar words
tendency
trait
propensity
inclination
characteristic
Usage
Use streak for a thin line of colour, a habit record, a personal trait, or the slang act of running naked; choose the sense that matches the context.
Common mistakes
The noun is often confused with the verb, leading to streak vs streaked errors.
Etymology
FAQ
What does streak mean in a mineral context?
It refers to the thin line of colour left when the mineral is scratched.
How is streak used to describe habits?
It denotes a consecutive series of days or events, like a workout streak.
What does streak mean on Snapchat?
It describes the daily exchange of snaps that creates a continuous streak between friends.
Is streak a slang term for running naked?
Yes, in informal slang it means dashing naked through a public place.
Can streak describe a personal characteristic?
Yes, it can refer to a noticeable tendency, such as a streak of generosity.
Comments & contributions
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