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stripe

n. · v.
US //ˈstɹaɪp// UK //stɹˈaɪp// stripe
  1. 1 a line of color (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a long, narrow line of color that looks different from the background.

    a long, relatively straight region of a single color that contrasts with the surrounding surface.

    Example

    The zebra has black and white stripes all over its body.

    Example

    The designer chose a wallpaper with bold vertical stripes to create the illusion of height in the low-ceilinged Victorian parlor.
  2. 2 military rank (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the V-shaped lines on a uniform that show a person's rank in the army or police.

    chevron-shaped insignia worn on a uniform sleeve to indicate non-commissioned officer rank.

    Example

    He was proud to finally earn his third stripe and become a sergeant.

    Example

    After years of disciplined service in the infantry, he was finally awarded the stripes of a senior non-commissioned officer.
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  1. 3 type or category (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    a particular type of person or thing.

    a distinguishing characteristic or category of person; often used in the phrase 'of that stripe'.

    Example

    We don't usually see many politicians of that stripe in our small town.

    Example

    The conference attracted activists and intellectuals of every political stripe, leading to a series of remarkably diverse debates.
  2. 4 computing data (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Computing

    a way to split computer data across several disks to make it faster or safer.

    a segment of data distributed across multiple physical storage devices to improve performance or provide redundancy.

    Example

    The server uses a data stripe to speed up how fast it can read files.

    Example

    The RAID controller manages the stripe width across the array to optimize the balance between read speeds and fault tolerance.
  3. 5 to mark with lines (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to draw or paint long lines on something.

    to mark a surface with stripes of a contrasting color or texture.

    Example

    The workers began to stripe the road with fresh white paint.

    Example

    The morning sun began to stripe the forest floor with long, narrow shadows as it rose above the canopy.
Origin

From Middle English stripe, strype, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German strîpe, from Proto-West Germanic strīpā, strīpō, from Proto-Germanic *strīpô. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Striepe (“stripe, strip”), West Frisian stripe (“stripe”), Dutch streep (“stripe”), German Low German Striepe, Striep, Streep (“stripe”), German Streifen (“stripe, strip, band”), Danish stribe (“stripe”).

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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