[kriːp], (Verb)

Definitions:
- move slowly and carefully in order to avoid being heard or noticed
(e.g: he crept downstairs, hardly making any noise)

- (of a plant) grow along the ground or other surface by means of extending stems or branches
(e.g: thorny roses crept up the dull gray walls)

- (of a plastic solid) undergo gradual deformation under stress


Phrases:
- give someone the creeps

Origin:
Old English crēopan ‘move with the body close to the ground’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kruipen. Sense 1 of the verb dates from Middle English

[kriːp], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a detestable person
(e.g: I thought he was a nasty little creep)

- slow steady movement, especially when imperceptible
(e.g: an attempt to prevent this slow creep of costs)

- the gradual, inadvertent increase or expansion of something beyond its original scope or objective, especially to detrimental effect
(e.g: scope creep is a real threat to any project)

- an opening in a hedge or wall for an animal to pass through
(e.g: low in the wall are creeps, through which ewes gain access to grazing from the pastures behind)

- solid food given to young farm animals in order to wean them
(e.g: we've started to wean the lambs earlier and to keep them on creep)


Phrases:
- give someone the creeps

Origin:
Old English crēopan ‘move with the body close to the ground’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kruipen. Sense 1 of the verb dates from Middle English