creep /krēp/ intransitive verb (pat and pap crept)- To move with the belly on or near the ground
- To move or advance slowly or stealthily
- To slip or encroach very gradually
- To develop insidiously
- To grow along the ground or on supports, as a vine does
- To fawn or cringe
- (of the skin or flesh) to have a shrinking sensation, as a concomitant of horror, etc
- To shudder
- To drag with a creeper (nautical)
- To undergo creep (metallurgy)
transitive verb (Milton, etc)To creep on noun- The act or process or creeping
- A slow slipping or yielding to stress
- Crystallization or rise of a precipitate on the side of a vessel above the surface of a liquid
- Gradual alteration of shape under stress (metallurgy)
- A narrow passage
- An enclosure in which young farm animals may feed, with an approach too narrow to admit the mother
- A cringing, unassertive or otherwise unpleasant person (slang)
ORIGIN: OE crēopan; Du kruipen creepˈer noun - Someone or something that creeps
- A creeping plant, eg the Virginia creeper
- A small bird that runs up trees, a tree creeper (N American)
- A kind of grapnel used for dragging the seabed, etc (nautical)
- An endless chain or conveyor
- A crêpe-soled, or other soft-soled, shoe (informal)
- A wheeled board on which one may lie and move about while working under a vehicle
- A ball that stays low after bouncing (cricket)
creepˈered adjective Covered with a creeper creepˈie noun - A low stool
- A stool of repentance
creepˈily adverb creepˈiness noun creepˈing adjective creepˈingly adverb creepˈy adjective (creepˈier; creepˈiest) Mysterious, rather eerie or chilling creepˈ-hole noun - A hiding hole
- A subterfuge
creeping bent grass noun A common European pasture grass, Agrostris palustris creeping eruption noun An irritating skin condition caused by the larvae of certain flies or nematodes which burrow through the skin tissue leaving thin red lines (also larva migrans) creeping Jenny noun Moneywort, a creeping plant of the primrose family (Lysimachia nummularia) creeping Jesus noun (derog sl) A cringingly sanctimonious person creeping thistle noun Canada thistle (qv) creepˈmouse adjective (archaic) Silent and shrinking creepy-crawlˈy noun (informal) A creeping insect (also adjective) the creeps (informal) A feeling of horror or revulsion |