creature

crea·ture

noun \ˈkrē-chər\

Definition of CREATURE

1

: something created either animate or inanimate: as

a : a lower animal; especially : a farm animal

b : a human being

c : a being of anomalous or uncertain aspect or nature <creatures of fantasy>

2

: one that is the servile dependent or tool of another : instrument

— crea·tur·al \ˈkrē-chə-rəl\ adjective

— crea·ture·hood \ˈkrē-chər-ˌhu̇d\ noun

— crea·ture·li·ness \-lē-nəs\ noun

— crea·ture·ly \-lē\ adjective

Examples of CREATURE

1. rabbits, squirrels, and other furry creatures
2. Few living creatures can survive without water.
3. a giant hairy apelike creature
4. She's a creature of rare beauty.
5. A social creature by nature, he loves working with people.
6. The poor creature had no way to get home.

Origin of CREATURE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin creatura, from Latin creatus, past participle of creare

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CREATURE

Synonyms

baby, being, bird, bod [British], body, character, cookie (or cooky), human, customer, devil, duck, egg, face, fish, guy, head, human being, individual, life, man, mortal, party, person, personage, scout, slob, sort, soul, specimen, stiff, thing, wight

Related Words

hominid, homo, humanoid; brother, fellow, fellowman, neighbor; celebrity, personality, self, somebody

Near Antonyms

animal, beast, beastie, brute, critter

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

Rhymes with CREATURE

bleacher, feature, leacher, preacher, reacher, screecher, teacher