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streak

1. A line or long mark of a different colour from the ground; a stripe; a vein. What mean those coloured streaks in heaven? (milton)

2. A strake.

3. (Science: chemical) The fine powder or mark yielded by a mineral when scratched or rubbed against a harder surface, the colour of which is sometimes a distinguishing character.

4. The rung or round of a ladder.

Origin: 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, and cf. Strake.