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

Additionally, all residents along Shady Valley Drive, Green Tee Drive and surrounding courts, and Country Club Road along a nearby creek in Pantego were asked to stay indoors, police announced at around 7 p.m. in a Facebook post. —Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2024

Many roads could flood and there could be major rises on creeks, streams and rivers, as well as mud and rock slides and debris flows, Schoening added. —Tina Burnside, CNN, 4 Feb. 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

Phrases Containing creek

• up the creek

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 a confederacy of American Indian peoples formerly occupying most of Alabama and Georgia