streaky

IPA/ˈstriːki/
IPA/ˈstriːki/

streaky — adjective

  • streakypositive
  • streakiercomparative
  • streakiestsuperlative

1. Used of a surface where thin marks of a second colour run across it in an uneven

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

Used of a surface where thin marks of a second colour run across it in an uneven way, so that the surface does not look smooth or clean.

Example

The bathroom mirror looked streaky after the cleaner wiped it with a damp cloth.

pattern: look streaky (visual appearance after poor cleaning)

After the shop assistant scrubbed the window, a streaky mark remained near the top corner.

Common collocations
  • streaky bacon
  • streaky finish
  • streaky glass
  • streaky marks
  • streaky patches
  • streaky mirror
Synonyms
  • striped

    suggests deliberate, neat parallel lines (a striped shirt), while streaky suggests irregular, often unwanted marks

  • lined

    more neutral and general; can describe paper or skin without implying unevenness

  • veined

    used for thin, branching lines like blood vessels or leaf veins; narrower in scope

  • marbled

    swirled patterns like marble stone, typically more decorative than streaky

Antonyms
  • uniform

    smooth and even in colour or texture

  • clear

    free of marks or lines (used of glass, liquid, or skin)

Usage Note

Often used to describe things that do not look clean or well-made because of uneven lines — for example, a window that has been wiped badly, or paint that has been applied carelessly.

Common Mistakes

The wall was streaky of lines.
The wall was streaky.
'streaky' already means having lines; do not add 'of lines' after it.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe surfaces marked with lines, but they differ in how the lines look and feel. 'Striped' suggests wide, deliberate bands of colour — a rugby shirt or a zebra is striped, not streaky. 'Lined' is the most neutral and general, used for any long narrow mark: lined paper, a lined face. 'Veined' describes thin, branching lines like those in leaves, marble, or human skin. 'Marbled' implies swirling, irregular patterns that are usually considered attractive (marbled cake, marbled paper). 'Streaky' overlaps with all of these in different contexts but carries a specific connotation of thin, uneven lines that often spoil an otherwise even surface — a streaky window was cleaned badly, a streaky wall was painted too quickly. You might say 'the bacon was streaky with layers of fat and meat,' but you would not call a zebra 'streaky' because its stripes are neat and deliberate.

striped ↗lined ↗veined ↗marbled ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • streaky with dirt
  • look streaky
  • go streaky

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed from the noun 'streak' (a long, thin line) plus the adjective suffix '-y', which means 'having the quality of'. 'Streak' comes from Old English 'strica' (a line or stroke), related to the verb 'strican' (to pass lightly over). The sense of 'marked with lines' dates back to the 1500s.

First known use

1722

1722, in the meaning defined at sense 1