creek

¹

[ kreek, krik ]

noun

1. U.S. and Canada. a stream smaller than a river.
2. a stream or channel in a coastal marsh.
3. Chiefly Atlantic States and British. a recess or inlet in the shore of the sea.
4. an estuary.
5. British Dialect. a narrow, winding passage or hidden recess.

Creek

²

[ kreek ]

noun

, plural Creeks, (especially collectively) Creek.

1. a member of a confederacy of North American Indians that in historic times occupied the greater part of Alabama and Georgia.
2. Also called Muskogee. a Muskogean language that is the language of the Creek Indians.

Creek

¹

/ kriːk /

noun

1. CreekCreeks a member of a confederacy of Native American peoples formerly living in Georgia and Alabama, now chiefly in Oklahoma
2. any of the languages of these peoples, belonging to the Muskhogean family

creek

²

/ kriːk /

noun

1. a narrow inlet or bay, esp of the sea
2. a small stream or tributary
3. up the creek slang.
   in trouble; in a difficult position

Other Words From

• sub·creek noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of creek¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English creke, variant of crike, from Old Norse kriki “bend, crook”

Word History and Origins

Origin of creek¹

C13: from Old Norse kriki nook; related to Middle Dutch krēke creek, inlet

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. up the / a creek (without a paddle), Informal. in a predicament; in a difficult or seemingly hopeless situation:

   The pension is so small, I'd be up the creek if I had no other income.

   Don't ask me to navigate, or we'll be up a creek without a paddle in no time.

More idioms and phrases containing creek

see up a creek .

Example Sentences

Next thing I knew, I lost sight of it and then when I got up just about to Stevens Creek Boulevard I noticed the plane had landed.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Dawson’s Creek” star James Van Der Beek, who recently disclosed that he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, is apologizing to his loved ones who learned about his illness through the media.

From Los Angeles Times

The 47-year-old, known for starring in the TV series Dawson's Creek and the film Varsity Blues, told People magazine about his diagnosis and treatment.

From BBC

The 47-year-old actor, known for his role in the teen drama series “Dawson’s Creek,” told People he had been “privately dealing with this diagnosis” and was taking steps to address it.

From Los Angeles Times

The block we were assigned was just three minutes away, still in Cobbs Creek.

From Salon