n. 1 a a public road in a city, town, or village. b this with the houses or other buildings on each side. 2 the persons who live or work on a particular street. in the street 1 in the area outside the houses. 2 (of Stock Exchange business) done after closing-time. not in the same street with colloq. utterly inferior to in ability etc. on the streets 1 living by prostitution. 2 homeless. street Arab 1 a homeless child. 2 an urchin. street credibility familiarity with a fashionable urban subculture. street cries Brit. the cries of street hawkers. street door a main outer house-door opening on the street. street jewellery enamel advertising plates as collectors' items. streets ahead (often foll. by of) colloq. much superior (to). street value the value of drugs sold illicitly. up (or right up) one's street colloq. 1 within one's range of interest or knowledge. 2 to one's liking. streeted adj. (also in comb.). streetward adj. & adv.
[ OE strt f. LL strata (via) paved (way), fem. past part. of sternere lay down ]