creek

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈkrēk  ˈkrik 

1

: a natural stream of water normally smaller than and often tributary to a river

2

chiefly British : a small inlet or bay narrower and extending farther inland than a cove

3

archaic : a narrow or winding passage

Creek

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈkrēk 

1

plural Creek or Creeks : a member of any of a group of Indigenous American peoples that formed a confederacy in Georgia and eastern Alabama in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries and that were forcibly removed to Indian Territory in 1836 to 1840

2

a

plural Creek or Creeks : a member of the people who comprised the nucleus of the Creek confederacy : muscogee sense 1

b

: the Muskogean language of this people : muscogee sense 2

Note: Creek is the name by which the Muscogee people were known to English settlers prior to their forcible removal to Indian Territory. Present-day members of this nation live under the name Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

Phrases

up the creek

: in a difficult or perplexing situation

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• beck [British]
• bourn
• bourne
• brook
• brooklet
• burn [British]
• gill [British]
• rill
• rivulet
• run [chiefly Midland]
• runlet
• runnel
• streamlet

Examples of creek in a Sentence

Noun (1)

The children waded in the creek.

The coast is dotted with tiny creeks.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality noted in a forecast that smoke would move northeast along the Mogollon Rim before lighter overnight winds caused smoke to drain into Horton and Tonto creeks on Tuesday morning. —Rey Covarrubias Jr., The Arizona Republic, 26 Dec. 2024

The rain could cause flooding in local creeks and heavily paved areas. —Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 25 Dec. 2024

As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 2 inches of rain had already fallen on the area, causing small creeks, low-lying areas and some underpasses in the Dallas area to flood. —Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 25 Dec. 2024

The 708-acre property, 20 minutes from downtown, has terraces, gardens, a cabin, a creek, oak trees, flower meadows, and mountain views. —The Week Staff, theweek, 24 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English crike, creke, from Old Norse -kriki bend

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (2)

1725, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

creek

1 of 2 noun

ˈkrēk  ˈkrik 

1

chiefly British : a small narrow inlet or bay

2

: a stream of water usually smaller than a river

Creek

2 of 2 noun

ˈkrēk 

: a member of an Indigenous people originally of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida

also : their language