creeper

noun

creep·​er ˈkrē-pər 

1

: one that creeps: such as

a

: a creeping plant

b

: a bird (as of the family Certhiidae) that creeps about on trees or bushes searching for insects

c

: a creeping insect or reptile

2

: any of various devices used for creeping: such as

a

: a fixture with iron points worn on the shoe to prevent slipping

b

: a low wheeled platform for supporting the body when working under an automobile

3

: a usually one-piece garment for a child at the crawling age

Examples of creeper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wear creepers attached to boots to prevent slipping on clear ice. Carry a spud bar to check the ice while walking to new areas. —Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 18 Dec. 2024

But those seeking restraint and something more clever than the usual carnage will find this talky (in a good way) creeper offers more to chew on than the genre norm. —Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024

The creepers and the necklace are Chanel, of course. —Emily Leibert, Curbed, 26 Sep. 2024

Where to watch: Apple TV and video on demand 'Goosebumps' (2015) R.L. Stine's beloved series of kids horror books was the inspiration behind this rousing adventure where a couple of teens face a host of unleashed creepers, with an evil dummy and Jack Black channeling Stine as a grumpy literary dad. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing creeper

• trumpet creeper
• Virginia creeper

Kids Definition

creeper

noun

creep·​er ˈkrē-pər 

: one that creeps: as

a

: a creeping plant

b

: a bird that creeps about on trees or bushes searching for insects

Medical Definition

creeper

noun

creep·​er ˈkrē-pər 

1

: a genetic anomaly of the domestic fowl marked by shortening and thickening of the long bones in the heterozygote and completely lethal when homozygous

2

: creeper fowl