stripe

¹ American  

[strahyp] / straɪp /

noun

1. a relatively long, narrow band of a different color, appearance, weave, material, or nature from the rest of a surface or thing.

   the stripes of a zebra.

2. a fabric or material containing such a band or bands.

3. a strip of braid, tape, or the like.

4. stripes,

   1. a number or combination of such strips, worn on a military, naval, or other uniform as a badge of rank, service, good conduct, combat wounds, etc.

   2. Informal. status or recognition as a result of one's efforts, experience, or achievements.

      She earned her stripes as a traveling sales representative and then moved up to district manager.

5. a strip, or long, narrow piece of anything.

   a stripe of beach.

6. a streak or layer of a different nature within a substance.

7. style, variety, sort, or kind.

   a man of quite a different stripe.

8. Also called magnetic stripe.  Movies. a strip of iron oxide layer on the edge of a film that is used for recording and reproducing a magnetic sound track.

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verb (used with object)

striped, striping

1. to mark or furnish with a stripe or stripes.

stripe ² American  

[strahyp] / straɪp /

noun

1. a stroke with a whip, rod, etc., as in punishment.

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stripe ¹ British  

/ straɪp /

noun

1. a relatively long band of distinctive colour or texture that differs from the surrounding material or background

2. a fabric having such bands

3. a strip, band, or chevron of fabric worn on a military uniform, etc, esp one that indicates rank

4. kind; sort; type

   a man of a certain stripe

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verb

1. (tr) to mark with a stripe or stripes

stripe ² British  

/ straɪp /

noun

1. a stroke from a whip, rod, cane, etc

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Other Word Forms

• stripeless adjective

Etymology

Origin of stripe¹

First recorded in 1620–30; probably from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German strīpe; strip ², stripe ²

Origin of stripe²

First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English; obscurely akin to stripe ¹

Example Sentences

There was a horizontal stripe down the shirt, she said.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

And he went 14 for 16 at the line in the final frame, bringing his free-throw shooting total to a historic 36 for 43 from the charity stripe, so aptly named this game.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

He’s a Democrat, and I’m a Republican, but his advice is sound for moms and dads of any stripe.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

But after noticing a "horrendous black stripe" in his lounge within days of moving in, he has still not unpacked for fear damp will damage his belongings.

From BBC • Nov. 3, 2025

It was a Benz, an unusual car in this neighborhood, blue with a thick white stripe bisecting the hood, the roof, and the trunk.

From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini

Related Words

• ribbon