streak
gb/stɹˈik/ us/stɹˈik/
B2
English
~ 9300
csík, sorozat, vonás, oldal, elszáguld, átsuhan, csíkoz, becsíkoz, meztelen futás, meztelenül végigrohan
NOUN
B2
1
csík
A2
Usage pattern:
a streak of [color/dirt] on [something]
She has blonde streaks in her dark hair.
Sötét hajában szőke csíkok voltak.
A streak of mud ran down the side of the car.
Egy sárcsík futott végig az autó oldalán.
The sunset painted pink streaks across the clouds.
Tears left dark streaks of mascara on her cheeks.
There were brown streaks of rust on the old metal gate.
Learner examples
There are dirty streaks on the kitchen wall.
Piszkos csíkok vannak a konyha falán.
He saw white streaks of cloud in the blue sky.
Fehér felhőcsíkokat látott a kék égen.
She put red streaks in her hair.
Rain left long streaks on the window.
A streak of blood was on his shirt.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "streak" with "strip" or "stripe". Use "streak" for a long, narrow mark that is often accidental or irregular (streaks of dirt), and "stripe" for regular, usually neat patterns (zebra stripes).
Meaning
long thin line or mark
Collocations
streaks of light
|blonde streaks in her hair
|a streak of mud
|streaks of blood
|rain streaks on the window
Synonyms
stripe (Often used for regular, clear bands of color or pattern; "streak" can be more random or messy.)
Antonyms
spot (A small round mark rather than a long, narrow line.)
Themes
appearance
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A long, thin line of color or dirt that you can see on a surface.
A long, narrow line or band of color, dirt, or a similar substance that contrasts with the surrounding area.
NOUN
B2
2
sorozat
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is on a [adjective] streak
The team is on a five-game winning streak.
A csapat ötmeccses győzelmi sorozatban van.
After a long streak of bad luck, things finally improved.
Hosszú rossz széria után végre jobbra fordultak a dolgok.
Her streak of late arrivals is starting to annoy her boss.
He broke his streak of perfect test scores with a B in math.
The company enjoyed a three-year streak of rising profits.
Learner examples
Our club is on a long winning streak.
A klubunk hosszú győzelmi sorozatban van.
He had a streak of bad luck last year.
Tavaly rossz szériája volt.
She ended my streak of easy games.
Their losing streak finally stopped last night.
I hope this good streak at work continues.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"win streak"* instead of "winning streak" and *"lose streak"* instead of "losing streak". Use the -ing form: "winning streak", "losing streak".
Meaning
period of repeated similar events
Collocations
winning streak
|losing streak
|on a hot streak
|long streak of success
|goal-scoring streak
Synonyms
run (Common in sports and gambling; very close in meaning to "streak" in these contexts.)
Antonyms
one-off (Describes something that happens only once instead of many times in a row.)
Themes
sports
|daily_life
|luck
|time
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A time when the same thing, often winning or losing, happens again and again without a break.
A period during which the same type of event, especially success or failure, happens repeatedly without interruption.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] streak in [someone]
He has a stubborn streak and hates being told what to do.
Van benne egy makacs vonás, és utálja, ha megmondják neki, mit tegyen.
There's a mean streak in her that comes out when she's tired.
Van benne egy gonosz vonás, ami előjön, amikor fáradt.
Her creative streak led her to start painting in her free time.
Despite his serious image, he has a playful streak.
That rebellious streak in him made school difficult.
Learner examples
She has a kind streak and often helps strangers.
Van benne egy kedves oldal, és gyakran segít idegeneknek.
I have a lazy streak on weekends.
Hétvégén előjön a lusta oldalam.
He shows a wild streak when he goes to parties.
Her serious streak is useful at work.
He has a funny streak that surprises people.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"strong streak"* where "streak" already implies a noticeable quality. It is more natural to specify the type of streak, like "a stubborn streak" or "a jealous streak", instead of just saying *"a strong streak"* without an adjective.
Meaning
part of someone’s character
Collocations
a stubborn streak
|a mean streak
|an independent streak
|a rebellious streak
|a creative streak
Synonyms
side (Very general; "streak" suggests a stronger or more striking quality that shows up repeatedly.)
Antonyms
overall personality (Refers to the whole character, while a "streak" is only one small, specific part of it.)
Themes
personality
|emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A clear part of someone's personality that you can see in some of their actions.
A small but noticeable part of a person's character that shows itself in certain situations.
VERB
C1
4
Usage pattern:
[something] streaks [past/across/through] [something]
A shooting star streaked across the sky.
Egy hullócsillag suhant át az égen.
The train streaked past the station without stopping.
A vonat megállás nélkül száguldott el az állomás mellett.
Lightning streaked across the horizon during the storm.
An ambulance streaked by with its siren wailing.
Cars streaked down the highway late at night.
Learner examples
A bright light streaked across the dark sky.
Egy erős fény suhant át a sötét égen.
The red car streaked past us on the road.
A piros autó elszáguldott mellettünk az úton.
Clouds streaked across the moon.
The rocket streaked into the air.
The bus streaked by and we missed it.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "streak" for any fast movement. It is best used when the movement is very fast and in one clear direction, often with a visual line, especially in the sky or across a scene.
Meaning
move very fast in a line
Collocations
streak across the sky
|streak past the window
|streak down the field
|streak through the night
|streak by at high speed
Synonyms
race (Also means to move very fast, but does not carry the visual idea of a long, thin line of motion.)
Antonyms
crawl (Describes moving very slowly, the opposite of the very fast movement in "streak".)
Themes
movement
|nature
|core_vocabulary
|space
Definition
To move very fast in one direction, so you look like a long line passing by.
To move very quickly in a straight or nearly straight line, so that the movement looks like a long narrow line.
VERB
C1
5
Usage pattern:
[something] is streaked with [substance]
Her face was streaked with tears.
Könnyek csíkozták az arcát.
The window was streaked with rain after the storm.
A vihar után az ablakot esőcsíkok borították.
Smoke had streaked the ceiling with black lines.
His hands were streaked with paint from the job.
Mud streaked the sides of the truck after the drive.
Learner examples
The walls were streaked with black smoke.
A falakat fekete füstcsíkok borították.
Rain streaked the bus windows.
Az eső becsíkozta a busz ablakait.
Her cheeks were streaked with old makeup.
The glass is streaked with water.
His shirt was streaked with blood.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"full of streaks with"* instead of "streaked with". Use the passive form: "The wall was streaked with dirt", not *"full of streaks with dirt"*.
Meaning
mark with long narrow lines
Collocations
streaked with dirt
|streaked with tears
|rain-streaked windows
|smoke-streaked walls
|mascara-streaked cheeks
Synonyms
smear (Focuses more on spreading something messily; "streak" highlights the long, narrow shape of the marks.)
Antonyms
clean (To remove marks or dirt, the opposite of adding streaks.)
Themes
appearance
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make long, thin lines of color, dirt, or liquid on something.
To cover or mark something with long, narrow lines of color, liquid, dirt, or a similar substance.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
6
Usage pattern:
[someone] does a streak
The football match was interrupted by a streak across the pitch.
A futballmeccset megzavarta, hogy valaki meztelenül rohant át a pályán.
He promised to do a streak if his team won the championship.
Megígérte, hogy meztelenül végigrohan a pályán, ha a csapata megnyeri a bajnokságot.
Security quickly stopped the streak during the concert.
The crowd cheered when the streak started on the field.
That famous streak at the final made the news worldwide.
Learner examples
There was a streak at the big game.
A nagy meccsen valaki meztelenül rohant be.
He lost a bet and did a streak.
Elvesztett egy fogadást, és meztelenül végigrohant.
The streak made everyone in the stadium laugh.
Police ended the streak after a few seconds.
They talked about the crazy streak on TV.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the general verb "to streak" meaning "to move fast". In this noun sense, it specifically means running naked in public, usually in sports or event contexts.
Meaning
act of running naked in public
Collocations
do a streak
|a naked streak across the field
|a streak during halftime
|a drunken streak
|pull a streak
Synonyms
naked run (A more literal description; less common as a fixed term than "streak".)
Antonyms
streaker-free event (Describes an event without such naked runs; pragmatic opposite of an event with a streak.)
Themes
humor
|society
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A time when someone runs with no clothes in a public place, usually as a joke or dare.
An incident in which a person runs naked through a public place, especially as a joke, dare, or protest.
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
7
Usage pattern:
[someone] streaks [through/across] [a place]
A fan streaked across the pitch during the final.
Egy drukker meztelenül rohant át a pályán a döntő alatt.
He said he would streak through the city center if his team won.
Azt mondta, meztelenül átrohan a belvároson, ha a csapata nyer.
Several students streaked past the library as a graduation prank.
Someone tried to streak onto the stage but was stopped by security.
They were arrested after streaking down the main street at midnight.
Learner examples
A man streaked across the football field.
Egy férfi meztelenül rohant át a futballpályán.
He promised to streak through the park if they won.
Megígérte, hogy meztelenül átrohan a parkon, ha nyernek.
Three students streaked past the school at night.
She joked that she would streak down the street.
They were in trouble for streaking during the show.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "streak" here just means "run very fast". In this informal sense it always includes being naked in a public place.
Meaning
run naked in public
Collocations
streak across the field
|streak through the stadium
|streak past the cameras
|dare to streak
|threaten to streak
Synonyms
run naked (A plain description; less idiomatic than "streak".)
Antonyms
stay clothed (Describes not removing clothes, which is the opposite behavior of streaking.)
Themes
humor
|society
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To run with no clothes in a public place, usually for fun or as a dare.
To run naked through a public place, especially as a joke, dare, or form of protest.
Grammar
Dictionary form
streak
IPA
GB/stɹˈik/
US/stɹˈik/
Syllables & stress
streak (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (streak)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: streak
- Plural: streaks
Verb
- Base: streak
- 3rd Person Singular: streaks
- Present Participle: streaking
- Past: streaked
Word family
Forms
streaks
noun
streaking
verb
streaked
verb
Core family
streaky
adjective
Related words
streaker
noun
Advanced or less common
streakiness
noun
Expressions
break the streak
1/bɹˈeɪk ðə stɹˈik/
fixed phrase
end a continuous series of results
To stop a run of many wins, losses, or other repeated events from continuing.
Examples
- The underdogs broke the streak with a surprise victory.
- They hope this new policy will break the streak of bad results.
cold streak
1/kˈoʊld stɹˈik/
fixed phrase
informal
period of unusually poor results
A time when someone keeps doing badly again and again, for example in sports or business.
Examples
- The shooter is trying to end his cold streak from the three-point line.
- After a long cold streak, the company finally reported a profit.
hot streak
1/hˈɑt stɹˈik/
fixed phrase
informal
period of unusually high success
A time when someone is doing very well again and again, for example in games, business, or work.
Examples
- She's on a hot streak at work and just closed three big deals.
- The player continued his hot streak with another two goals tonight.
losing streak
1/lˈuzɪŋ stɹˈik/
fixed phrase
period of many losses in a row
A time when a person or team loses many games or contests one after another.
Examples
- The club finally broke its losing streak with a 2–1 win.
- He's been on a terrible losing streak at the casino.
lucky streak
1/lˈʌki stɹˈik/
fixed phrase
period of repeated good luck
A time when many good or lucky things happen again and again.
Examples
- He's on a lucky streak at cards tonight.
- Enjoy your lucky streak while it lasts.
on a streak
1/ˈɔn ə stɹˈik/
fixed phrase
informal
currently in a run of results
Having the same result again and again at the present time, often many wins or good events in a row.
Examples
- He's really on a streak with his investments this year.
- You're on a streak today—do you want to keep playing?
streak across the sky
1/stɹˈik əkɹˈɔs ðə skˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
move quickly across the sky
To move very fast across the sky so that it looks like a line of light or color.
Examples
- A meteor streaked across the sky and then disappeared.
- They watched fireworks streak across the sky above the city.
streak of lightning
1/stɹˈik əv lˈaɪtnɪŋ/
fixed phrase
single flash of lightning line
A long, thin line of lightning that you see in the sky.
Examples
- A bright streak of lightning lit up the clouds.
- They saw a streak of lightning flash over the mountains.
streak of luck
1/stɹˈik əv lˈʌk/
fixed phrase
series of lucky events
Several lucky things that happen one after another in a short time.
Examples
- She had a streak of luck and found a job quickly.
- Their recent streak of luck has surprised everyone.
winning streak
1/wˈɪnɪŋ stɹˈik/
fixed phrase
period of many wins in a row
A time when a person or team wins many games or contests one after another without losing.
Examples
- The team is on a ten-game winning streak.
- Her winning streak ended when she came second in the final race.