creek

1 of 2

noun (1)

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)

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

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
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 For the new study, the researchers conducted surveys at 13 tidal creeks in Elkhorn Slough, comparing historical rates of erosion and the otters’ population. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024 All that untreated water goes directly into creeks and lakes, and eventually, into the ocean. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2023 Around 2018, Corwin began to contemplate how his company might become a better steward of water, particularly the many coastal creeks that run past its Bay Area offices. Ben Goldfarb, WIRED, 28 Dec. 2023 As the creek continued to surge, another section blew out, a few hundreds yards southeast. Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2023 Regulators ordered the creek cleaned and the hillsides stabilized. Ken Ward Jr., ProPublica, 1 Dec. 2023 This is how farming has long been done in See Canyon near San Luis Obispo, where the orchards spread out beside a creek at the foot of a steep ridge shaded by oak trees. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2023 Brief bands of heavy rains could also cause some urban and creek flooding. Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'creek.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of creek was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near creek

Cite this Entry

“Creek.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creek. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

creek

1 of 2 noun
1
chiefly British : a small narrow inlet or bay
2
: a stream of water usually smaller than a river

Creek

2 of 2 noun
: a member of a confederacy of American Indian peoples formerly occupying most of Alabama and Georgia

More from Merriam-Webster on creek

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