Dictionary

creek en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Appalachia, US) audio
• [kʰɹʷɪi̯k]
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈkɹiːk/
• (Australia) audio
• (US) audio
• [ˈkʰɹʷɪk] Appalachia, dated elsewhere in the US
• /ˈkɹɪk/ Appalachia, dated elsewhere in the US

Etymology

From Middle English crike, probably from Old Norse kriki, from Proto-Germanic *krikjô, variant of krekô, from Proto-Indo-European *ger- (“to turn, to wind”); the modern form creek (already late Middle English creke) either reflects open-syllable lengthening of Middle English /i/ or reborrowing from Middle Dutch krēke., Compare typologically English bight, akin to bend, bow. See also Old Dutch creka, crika (“inlet, cove, creek”), Medieval Latin creca, crica, kríkr (“angle, corner, nook, bay”), Old Norse kraki (“pole with a hook, anchor”), and possibly Old Norse krókr (“hook, bend, bight”). Modern cognates include West Frisian kreek (“creek”), Dutch kreek (“creek, cove, inlet, bight”), and French crique (“cove”) (borrowed from Germanic). Early British colonists of Australia and the Americas used the term in the usual British way, to name inlets; as settlements followed the inlets upstream and inland, the names were retained and creek came to be used to refer to any small waterway. A similar semantic development occurred in Dutch and French, where the word originally meant "bay" but came to mean "stream" especially in the French and Dutch colonies (French Guiana, Dutch Guiana and Indonesia).

Meanings

1. (UK) A small inlet, often saltwater, leading to the sea or to the main channel of a river, especially a river estuary.
   • There is a tide in the affairs of men, / Which, taken any way you please, is bad, / And strands them in forsaken guts and creeks / No decent soul would think of visiting. 1887 March 21, Rudyard Kipling, “Kidnapped”, in Plain Tales from the Hills, Calcutta: Thacker, Spink and Co.; London: W. Thacker & Co., published 1888, →OCLC, page 111:
   • Seven miles to the north of Venice, the banks of sand, which near the city rise little above low-water mark, attain by degrees a higher level, and knit themselves at last into fields of salt morass, raised here and there into shapeless mounds, and intercepted by narrow creeks of sea. 1853, John Ruskin, “Torcello”, in The Stones of Venice, volume II (The Sea-Stories), London: Smith, Elder, and Co., […], →OCLC, § I, page 11:
2. (UK) The inner part of a port that is used as a dock for small boats.
3. (Australia, Canada, New-Zealand, US) A stream of water, typically a stream of freshwater smaller than a river; in Australia, also used of river-sized bodies of water.
   • We all feel it Looming, even when we're awake, out there ahead someplace, the way you come to feel a River or Creek ahead, before anything else,— sound, sky, vegetation,— may have announced it. 1997, Thomas Pynchon, chapter 67, in Mason & Dixon, 1st US edition, New York: Henry Holt and Company, →ISBN, part Two: America, page 650:
4. Any turn or winding.

Forms

Deriveds (first 500 of 613)

Bostocks Creek · Culmuran Creek · Walnut Creek · Spicketts Creek · Lower Duck Creek · Miry Creek · Icy Creek · Nobbys Creek · Deep Creek · Bottle Creek · Bullawa Creek · Pages Creek · Rocky Creek · Big Pats Creek · Devils Creek · Lloyd Creek · Dows Creek · Cowley Creek · James Creek · Lotus Creek · Dumpy Creek · Borah Creek · Suzhou Creek · Spargo Creek · Pipe Creek · Wrights Creek · Newee Creek · McHarg Creek · Lower Creek · Cabbage Tree Creek · Whim Creek · Stony Creek · Wylie Creek · Fletcher Creek · creekfront · Cedar Creek · Billys Creek · Pine Creek Station · Lost Creek · Twelve Mile Creek · up shit creek without a paddle · Bamboo Creek · Stockyard Creek · Bella Creek · Fernbank Creek · Bees Creek · Meadow Creek · Wattle Creek · Coxs Creek · Majors Creek · Dawson Creek · Glen Creek · Blackwood Creek · Breakfast Creek · Timber Creek · Sturt Creek · Oaky Creek · Godfreys Creek · Rushes Creek · Hines Creek · Green Creek · Pearces Creek · Thanes Creek · Big Creek · Old Mill Creek · McIntosh Creek · Lower Bottle Creek · Fish Creek · Upper Eden Creek · Toms Creek · Chandlers Creek · Kerrs Creek · creekbank · Rixs Creek · Cannon Creek · Cowleys Creek · Hoddles Creek · Beaver Creek · Farrars Creek · Havengore Creek · Jacob Creek · Fitzgerald Creek · Sharps Creek · Geegully Creek · Kangaroo Creek · Western Creek · Upper Coopers Creek · Murphys Creek · creek boat · Soda Creek · Leigh Creek Station · Steels Creek · Doubtful Creek · Beavercreek · run like a dry creek · Canning Creek · Pikes Creek · Barkers Creek · Oakey Creek · Wascana Creek · Edith Creek · Horseshoe Creek · Captain Creek · Eungai Creek · Flagstone Creek · Upper Horseshoe Creek · Denicull Creek · Devereux Creek · Thumb Creek · Barker Creek Flat · Rush Creek · Mabel Creek · Etna Creek · Berrys Creek · Diamond Creek · Vance Creek · Possum Creek · Sugarloaf Creek · Curra Creek · Lindesay Creek · Commissioners Creek · Brogans Creek · God willing and the creek don't rise · Scrubby Creek · Upper Wilsons Creek · Sulphur Creek · Dora Creek · Dead Nigger Creek · Bridge Creek · Welcome Creek · Iron Pot Creek · Frenches Creek · Clothiers Creek · Swan Creek · Haly Creek · Brandy Creek · Clara Creek · Myrtle Creek · creekbed · Redbank Creek · upcreek · Wild Cattle Creek · creekwards · Hickeys Creek · Bellbird Creek · Arthurs Creek · Cherry Creek · Iguana Creek · Mahogany Creek · Fly Creek · Chowan Creek · Reserve Creek · Upsalls Creek · Jacks Creek · Alumy Creek · Pola Creek · Garden Island Creek · Whiteman Creek · Beelbi Creek · Petticoat Creek · Splitters Creek · Halls Creek · Brushy Creek · Louisa Creek · Boxers Creek · up shit's creek without a paddle · Rapid Creek · Tamrookum Creek · Spring Creek · Yankees Creek · Axe Creek · Reids Creek · German Creek · Titaatee Creek · Wise Creek · Brogers Creek · Main Creek · Pie Creek · Horse Creek · Upper Crystal Creek · Judds Creek · Whiteheads Creek · Wilson Creek · Fentons Creek · Lower Acacia Creek · Burrell Creek · Upper Cooyar Creek · Whiska Creek · Donald Creek · Red Creek · Rendezvous Creek · Forest Creek · Wyong Creek · Big Jacks Creek · Ruby Creek · Porters Creek · Warrazambil Creek · Goorganga Creek · North Deep Creek · Back Creek · Lakes Creek · Smythes Creek · Bream Creek · Peacock Creek · Repentance Creek · West Creek · Clarke Creek · Upper Ryans Creek · Byrrill Creek · Ferny Creek · Cooleys Creek · Hutton Creek · Gregors Creek · Mosquito Creek · Black Creek · Sweetmans Creek · Davis Creek · East Deep Creek · Coal Creek · Campbell Creek · Cooneys Creek · Theresa Creek · Badgerys Creek · Jarra Creek · Turkey Creek · Slacks Creek · Cudlee Creek · Bingeebeebra Creek · Gulf Creek · Chilcotts Creek · Georges Creek · Verges Creek · Baerami Creek · creeker · Stewart Creek Valley · Marom Creek · Giants Creek · Sandy Creek · Rock Creek · Sawpit Creek · creekless · Amamoor Creek · Barking Creek · Panther Creek · Mangrove Creek · Running Creek · Antietam Creek · Scotts Creek · Lankeys Creek · Chinghee Creek · Christmas Creek · Duncans Creek · Rodgers Creek · Wallaces Creek · McKenzie Creek · up the creek · Eight Mile Creek · Weston Creek · Hyndmans Creek · Falls Creek · Cattle Creek · Ivory Creek · Burns Creek · Tabbil Creek · Halfway Creek · Duck Creek · Pine Creek · Bohena Creek · Mp Creek · Shady Creek · Booerie Creek · Cannons Creek · Skenes Creek · Blakney Creek · Hopkins Creek · Pheasant Creek · Burnett Creek · Nowhere Creek · Pincher Creek · Marys Creek · Machine Creek · Castle Creek · Gorge Creek · Otter Creek · Menzies Creek · Horse Station Creek · Wood Creek · up a creek without a paddle · Laceys Creek · Clifton Creek · Mortons Creek · Jupiter Creek · Creightons Creek · Orange Creek · Bear Creek · Terania Creek · Brady Creek · Forbes Creek · creekside · Mambray Creek · Langhorne Creek · Bobs Creek · Coomalie Creek · Culmaran Creek · Stow Creek · Wombat Creek · Cochranes Creek · Kemps Creek · Wongo Creek · Limestone Creek · Kunghur Creek · Splinter Creek · Eulah Creek · Simpkins Creek · Acacia Creek · Mungay Creek · Yandina Creek · Maria Creeks · Fyans Creek · Batar Creek · Tonghi Creek · Carbine Creek · Cudgera Creek · Calico Creek · Cona Creek · Canal Creek · Archies Creek · Kings Creek · William Creek · Darts Creek · Collett Creek · Howes Creek · Boomi Creek · Callaghans Creek · Brungle Creek · Julia Creek · Sunday Creek · Campbells Creek · Woody Creek · Maple Creek · Tyalgum Creek · Moleville Creek · Pegs Creek · Cressbrook Creek · Yaven Creek · Lee Creek · Kandanga Creek · Brown Hill Creek · England Creek · Banks Creek · Pryor Creek · Jarvis Creek · Alligator Creek · Bakers Creek · Lynchs Creek · up a creek · Watsons Creek · Coconut Creek · Dignams Creek · Martins Creek · Pipers Creek · Black Duck Creek · Four Mile Creek · Blackfellows Creek · Hawkins Creek · Fortis Creek · Buffalo Creek · Wolli Creek · dry creek · Roseberry Creek · Delaneys Creek · Findon Creek · Boree Creek · Munna Creek · Dirty Creek · Owens Creek · Mulla Creek · Bells Creek · Sutherlands Creek · Joyces Creek · Sheep Station Creek · Darr Creek · Stotts Creek · Simpsons Creek · Broken Creek · Baffle Creek · Groper Creek · McCarrs Creek · Woopen Creek · Dales Creek · Duns Creek · Moore Creek · Shark Creek · Separation Creek · Bunya Creek · Oyster Creek · Cooper's Creek · creekward · Powers Creek · Little Back Creek · Barretts Creek · Mullumbimby Creek · Trotter Creek · creeky · Lord willing and the creek don't rise · Mundic Creek · Scott Creek · Strath Creek · Licking Creek · Butchers Creek · Boeill Creek · Werris Creek · Sorell Creek · Moggs Creek · Ringtail Creek · Warrah Creek · Scrub Creek · Battle Creek · Kennaicle Creek · Crooked Creek · Creek Junction · Mullett Creek · Carrolls Creek · Mica Creek · Belle Creek · Glennies Creek · Turtons Creek · Mole Creek · Carneys Creek · Maramingo Creek · Croppa Creek · Knapp Creek · Hydes Creek · Torrens Creek · Punchs Creek · Middle Creek · Cripple Creek · Fall Creek · Kidaman Creek · Creek View · Coes Creek · Currency Creek · subcreek · McMahons Creek · Mena Creek · Brays Creek · creeklet · Mountain Creek · Paris Creek · Emu Creek · Daadenning Creek · up shit's creek · Flaggy Creek · Bow Creek · Sheans Creek · Dixons Creek · Creekmouth · Carrs Creek · Collins Creek · Chasm Creek · Slaty Creek · Tilligerry Creek · Warrell Creek · Ross Creek · Reedy Creek · Camp Creek · Pound Creek · Nyrang Creek · Willow Creek · Swifts Creek · Laguña Creek · Spicers Creek · Coochin Creek · Myall Creek · Laidley Creek West · Coghills Creek · Trunkey Creek · Cross Creek · Warragai Creek · Soochow Creek · Canteen Creek · Cedar Brush Creek · Apple Tree Creek · creek bed · Utchee Creek · Hanleys Creek · Kobble Creek · Oberne Creek · up shit creek · Greens Creek · Branch Creek · Muscle Creek · Upper Duck Creek · Hail Creek · Mill Creek · Haw Creek · Micket Creek · Macks Creek · Badger Creek · creek plum

Descendants

kriki · kriki

Synonyms

burn · stream · run (regional US terms:) · brook · bayou · brook · beck (non-British:) · branch

Translations (107)

gl dioivo (stream of water) · sq rrjedhë (stream of water) · ebk arog-og (stream of water) · yxg pilla (stream of water) · ru руче́й (stream of water) · srn kriki (stream of water) · it piccola insenatura (small inlet or bay) · nl slenk (small inlet or bay) · lmw wúwwe (stream of water) · ms serokan (small inlet or bay) · fr ruisseau (stream of water) · pdt Bach (nds) (stream of water) · ms anak sungai (stream of water) · lmw wúuwe (stream of water) · hy գետակ (stream of water) · de Bach (stream of water) · bg бухта (small inlet or bay) · cic abookoshi (stream of water) · ru бу́хточка (small inlet or bay) · gl barbaña (stream of water) · wao ʔéču (stream of water) · pdc Krick (stream of water) · gl seo (small inlet or bay) · li krieëk (small inlet or bay) · fy sleat (small inlet or bay) · ota دره (stream of water) · fi puro (stream of water) · bg тясно заливче (small inlet or bay) · cmn 小湾 (small inlet or bay) · cmn 小溪 (stream of water) · it ruscello (stream of water) · gl bioca (stream of water) · fr crique (small inlet or bay) · tr çay (stream of water) · it calanca (small inlet or bay) · ota چای (stream of water) · hu öböl (small inlet or bay) · tl ilat (stream of water) · uk бу́хта (small inlet or bay) · cmn 小灣 /小湾 (small inlet or bay) · bpl kriki (stream of water) · bg поток (stream of water) · ca rierol (stream of water) · gl caleiro (small inlet or bay) · ca cala (small inlet or bay) · hu csermely (stream of water) · sv bäck (stream of water) · pdt Schelsel (stream of water) · mk за́ливче (small inlet or bay) · pt enseada (small inlet or bay) · pdt Rie (stream of water) · uk струмо́к (stream of water) · yi ריטשקה (stream of water) · yi טײַכל (stream of water) · nl kreek (small inlet or bay) · pap roi (stream of water) · cst núm̄ei' (stream of water) · vi lạch (stream of water) · gl bullón (stream of water) · uga 𐎊𐎁𐎍𐎚 (stream of water) · de Bucht (small inlet or bay) · oj ziibiins (stream of water) · es riachuelo (stream of water) · ebk kinnaw (stream of water) · gl enxurrada (stream of water) · hu patak (stream of water) · ja 小川 (stream of water) · pdc Grick (stream of water) · knb suɏong (stream of water) · sq grykë (small inlet or bay) · ru бу́хта (small inlet or bay) · es arroyo (stream of water) · ilo waig (stream of water) · mk ре́кичка (stream of water) · uk зато́ка (small inlet or bay) · ru зали́в (small inlet or bay) · gl regato (stream of water) · knb wain (stream of water) · ca riera (stream of water) · gur kʋlga class 3/4 (stream of water) · gl doira (stream of water) · gl angra (small inlet or bay) · cs potok (stream of water) · gl doca (small inlet or bay) · dif karirri (stream of water) · ota جدول (stream of water) · sv vik (small inlet or bay) · cu потокъ (stream of water) · gl cala (small inlet or bay) · es caleta (small inlet or bay) · mk по́ток (stream of water) · fi poukama (small inlet or bay) · pt riacho (stream of water) · it fiumicello (stream of water) · tl sapa (stream of water) · mk за́лив (small inlet or bay) · gl abra (small inlet or bay) · ksc wail (stream of water) · knb ewagit (stream of water) · mr खाडी (small inlet or bay) · gl anco (small inlet or bay) · no bekk (stream of water) · gl enseada (small inlet or bay) · tr dere (stream of water) · it rivo (stream of water) · os лӕсӕн (stream of water) · gl regueiro (stream of water)

wikipedia: open-syllable lengthening