creek
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creek
a small stream: A creek runs through the property.
Not to be confused with:
creak – a squeaking or grating sound: The floorboards creak.
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
Creek
(krēk)n. pl. Creek or Creeks
1.
a. A member of a Native American people formerly inhabiting eastern Alabama, southwest Georgia, and northwest Florida and now located in central Oklahoma and southern Alabama. The Creek were removed to Indian Territory in the 1830s.
b. The Muskogean language of the Creek.
2.
a. A Native American confederacy made up of the Creek and various smaller southeast tribes.
b. A member of this confederacy. In all senses also called Muskogee1.
[From the picturesque creeks near which they lived.]
creek
(krēk, krĭk)n.
Idiom: 1. A small stream, often a shallow or intermittent tributary to a river. Also called regionally branch, brook1, kill2, run.
2. A channel or stream running through a salt marsh: tidal creeks teeming with shore wildlife.
3. Chiefly British A small inlet in a shoreline, extending farther inland than a cove.
up the creek (without a paddle) Informal
In a difficult, unfortunate, or inextricable position.
[Middle English creke, probably from Old Norse kriki, bend.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
creek
(kriːk)n
1. (Physical Geography) chiefly Brit a narrow inlet or bay, esp of the sea
2. (Physical Geography) US and Canadian and Austral and NZ a small stream or tributary
3. up the creek slang in trouble; in a difficult position
[C13: from Old Norse kriki nook; related to Middle Dutch krēke creek, inlet]
Creek
(kriːk)npl Creek or Creeks
1. (Peoples) a member of a confederacy of Native American peoples formerly living in Georgia and Alabama, now chiefly in Oklahoma
2. (Languages) any of the languages of these peoples, belonging to the Muskhogean family
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
creek
(krik, krɪk)n.
1. a stream smaller than a river.
2. a stream or channel in a coastal marsh.
3. a recess or inlet in the shore of the sea.
4. an estuary.
Idioms: up the creek, Slang. in a difficult or seemingly hopeless situation.
[1200–50; Middle English creke, variant of crike < Old Norse kriki bend, crook]
Creek
(krik)n., pl. Creeks, (esp. collectively) Creek.
1. a member of a loose confederacy of American Indian peoples that in the 18th century occupied the greater part of Georgia and Alabama: forcibly removed to the Indian Territory in 1834–37.
3. the Muskogean language spoken by the Muskogee.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Noun | 1. | ![]() brooklet - a small brook stream, watercourse - a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth |
2. | Creek - any member of the Creek Confederacy (especially the Muskogee) formerly living in Georgia and Alabama but now chiefly in Oklahoma American Indian, Indian, Red Indian - a member of the race of people living in America when Europeans arrived |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
creek
noun
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
creek
nounThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
creek
[kriːk] N (Brit) (= inlet) → cala f, ensenada f (US) (= stream) → riachuelo mup the creek (without a paddle) (= in difficulties) → en un lío or (LAm) aprieto
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
creek
(kriːk) noun2. (American) a small river. riachuelo
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.