Streak is a physical property and identifying characteristic of minerals used by geologists. The mineral's powder color is its "streak." Minerals with a hardness of greater than 6 on the Mohs scale can be identified when they scratch an unglazed porcelain plate called a streak plate, leaving a very light white streak.

Streak (?), v. t. [Cf. Stretch, Streek.]

To stretch; to extend; hence, to lay out, as a dead body.

[Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

 

© Webster 1913.


Streak, n. [OE. streke; akin to D. streek a line, stroke, G. strich, AS. strica, Sw. strek, Dan. streg, Goth. stricks, and E. strike, stroke. See Strike, Stroke, n., and cf. Strake.]

1.

A line or long mark of a different color from the ground; a stripe; a vein.

What mean those colored streaks in heaven? Milton.

2. Shipbuilding

A strake.

3. Min.

The fine powder or mark yielded by a mineral when scratched or rubbed against a harder surface, the color of which is sometimes a distinguishing character.

4.

The rung or round of a ladder.

[Obs.]

 

© Webster 1913.


Streak, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Streaked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Streaking.]

1.

To form streaks or stripes in or on; to stripe; to variegate with lines of a different color, or of different colors.

A mule . . . streaked and dappled with white and black. Sandys.

Now streaked and glowing with the morning red. Prior.

2.

With it as an object: To run swiftly.

[Colloq.]

 

© Webster 1913.

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