strato|spher|ic /stræ təsfe r I k, [AM ] -f I r I k/ ADJ [ADJ n] Stratospheric means found in or related to the stratosphere. □ …stratospheric ozone.
stra|tum /strɑː təm, [AM ] stre I təm/ (strata )
1 N‑COUNT A stratum of society is a group of people in it who are similar in their education, income, or social status. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] It was an enormous task that affected every stratum of society.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Strata are different layers of rock. [TECHNICAL ] □ Shale gas is methane trapped in rock strata.
straw /strɔː / (straws )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Straw consists of the dried, yellowish stalks from crops such as wheat or barley. □ The barn was full of bales of straw. □ …a wide-brimmed straw hat.
2 N‑COUNT A straw is a thin tube of paper or plastic, which you use to suck a drink into your mouth. □ …a bottle of lemonade with a straw in it.
3 PHRASE If you are clutching at straws or grasping at straws , you are trying unusual or extreme ideas or methods because other ideas or methods have failed. □ …a badly thought-out scheme from a Government clutching at straws.
4 PHRASE If an event is the last straw or the straw that broke the camel's back , it is the latest in a series of unpleasant or undesirable events, and makes you feel that you cannot tolerate a situation any longer. □ The crisis could be the last straw for many of the world's poorest people.
5 PHRASE If you draw the short straw , you are chosen from a number of people to perform a job or duty that you will not enjoy. □ A few guests have drawn the short straw and agreed to drive others home.
straw|berry /strɔː bri, [AM ] -beri/ (strawberries ) N‑COUNT A strawberry is a small red fruit which is soft and juicy and has tiny yellow seeds on its skin. □ …strawberries and cream. □ …homemade strawberry jam.
stra w|berry blo nde (strawberry blondes ) also strawberry blond
1 ADJ Strawberry blonde hair is reddish blonde.
2 N‑COUNT A strawberry blonde is a person, especially a woman, who has strawberry blonde hair.
stra w po ll (straw polls ) N‑COUNT A straw poll is the unofficial questioning of a group of people to find out their opinion about something. □ A straw poll conducted at the end of the meeting found most people agreed with Mr Forth.
stray /stre I / (strays , straying , strayed )
1 VERB If someone strays somewhere, they wander away from where they are supposed to be. □ [V prep/adv] Tourists often get lost and stray into dangerous areas. □ [V ] A railway line crosses the park so children must not be allowed to stray.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A stray dog or cat has wandered away from its owner's home. □ …a refuge for stray cats. ● N‑COUNT Stray is also a noun. □ The dog was a stray which had been adopted.
3 VERB If your mind or your eyes stray , you do not concentrate on or look at one particular subject, but start thinking about or looking at other things. □ [V ] Even with the simplest cases I find my mind straying.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] You use stray to describe something that exists separated from other similar things. □ An 8-year-old boy was killed by a stray bullet. □ She shrugged a stray lock of hair out of her eyes.
streak /striː k/ (streaks , streaking , streaked )
1 N‑COUNT A streak is a long stripe or mark on a surface which contrasts with the surface because it is a different colour. □ There are these dark streaks on the surface of the moon. □ The flames begin as a few streaks of red against the pale brown of the walls.
2 VERB If something streaks a surface, it makes long stripes or marks on the surface. □ [V n] Rain had begun to streak the window-panes. □ [be V -ed + with ] His face was pale and streaked with dirt.
3 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If someone has a streak of a particular type of behaviour, they sometimes behave in that way. □ He's still got a mean streak.
4 VERB If something or someone streaks somewhere, they move there very quickly. □ [V prep/adv] A meteorite streaked across the sky.
5 N‑COUNT [adj N ] A winning streak or a lucky streak is a continuous series of successes, for example in gambling or sport. A losing streak or an unlucky streak is a series of failures or losses. □ The casinos had better watch out since I'm obviously on a lucky streak!
streak|er /striː kə r / (streakers ) N‑COUNT A streaker is someone who runs quickly through a public place wearing no clothes, as a joke.
streaky /striː ki/ (streakier , streakiest ) ADJ Something that is streaky is marked with long stripes that are a different colour to the rest of it. □ She has streaky fair hair and blue eyes. □ …the empty house with its streaky windows.
strea ky ba|con N‑UNCOUNT Streaky bacon is bacon which has stripes of fat between stripes of meat. [BRIT ]
stream ◆◇◇ /striː m/ (streams , streaming , streamed )
1 N‑COUNT A stream is a small narrow river. □ There was a small stream at the end of the garden. □ …a mountain stream.
2 N‑COUNT A stream of smoke, air, or liquid is a narrow moving mass of it. □ [+ of ] The window was open, letting in streams of cold sea air. □ Add the oil in a slow, steady stream.
3 N‑COUNT A stream of vehicles or people is a long moving line of them. □ [+ of ] There was a stream of traffic behind him.