1
: a line, mark, or ridge made by or as if by folding a pliable substance
2
: a specially marked area in various sports
especially
: an area surrounding or in front of a goal (as in lacrosse or hockey)
creased; creasing
1
: to make a crease in or on : wrinkle
a smile creased her face
2
: to wound slightly especially by grazing
creased by a bullet
: to become creased
creaser
noun
Synonyms
Examples of crease in a Sentence
Noun
He ironed his pants to make the creases sharp.
a crease in the paper
tiny creases at the corners of his eyes
Players from the opposing team may not enter the crease.
The batsman moved out of the crease.
Verb
a neatly creased pair of pants
The pages of the book were stained and creased.
She looked up, her face creasing into a smile.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2023
To make Aguilera look even more like Cher, makeup artist Etienne Ortega sculpted the star's eyes to mimic Cher's, using a light beige shadow across Aguilera's lids and applying a taupe gray in her creases, plus more of the beige shade under her skinny brows.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 31 Oct. 2023
Additionally, the foundation didn’t settle into creases and melted into the skin for a more seamless finish.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 26 Oct. 2023
The Battista, built on a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis draped in yet more carbon fiber, eschews excessive creases and exaggerated ducts, instead presenting a fluid, brushstroke aesthetic that traces back to Pininfarina’s original coachwork and hints at classics such as the 1947 Cisitalia 202.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2023
Designed to avoid hair creases both in sleep and while awake, these scrunchies are crafted from 22-momme thick long-fiber mulberry silk, with exacting quality guidelines.
—Grace Smith, wsj.com, 4 Nov. 2023
Made from 100% pure mulberry silk, this pillowcase is gentle on hair and skin, preventing frizz and creases.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2023
This baby steamer works quickly to smooth creases and eliminate puckers from fabrics, and the long power cord provides flexibility when outlets are scarce.
—Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2023
At the rear, this bodywork terminates in a sharp crease that seems incongruous with the rounded contours elsewhere.
—Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 7 Sep. 2023
Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023
Not just having to match tools with certain formulas, using the wrong tool may result in an undesirable finish– like splotches, caking, and creasing.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 10 Nov. 2023
And no smell, so creases, no fuzz, lint, or shedding.
—Lily Gray, Peoplemag, 2 Nov. 2023
Super lightweight and easy to spread into the skin for maximum coverage, this moisturizer proved to be nourishing during our testing period without creasing or settling into fine lines.
—Alyssa Rotunno, Travel + Leisure, 13 Oct. 2023
The formula feels lightweight on the skin and doesn’t ever crease or cling to the complexion.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2023
The eyeshadow is smooth to touch and the colors don’t crease.
—ELLE, 8 Sep. 2023
This helps to get rid of any creasing and loosen the curls for a more natural look.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2023
This altered design can be further customized via different creasing patterns and shapes to hone specific stiffness, flexibility, and strength—much like cellular shapes found within bones and honeycombs.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 Aug. 2023
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Noun
This genius item essentially works as a flat iron for your hair (but for your clothes) and its tapered clamps remove wrinkles, creases, and other unsightly ridges from your clothes.
—Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2023
To make Aguilera look even more like Cher, makeup artist Etienne Ortega sculpted the star's eyes to mimic Cher's, using a light beige shadow across Aguilera's lids and applying a taupe gray in her creases, plus more of the beige shade under her skinny brows.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 31 Oct. 2023
Additionally, the foundation didn’t settle into creases and melted into the skin for a more seamless finish.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 26 Oct. 2023
The Battista, built on a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis draped in yet more carbon fiber, eschews excessive creases and exaggerated ducts, instead presenting a fluid, brushstroke aesthetic that traces back to Pininfarina’s original coachwork and hints at classics such as the 1947 Cisitalia 202.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2023
Designed to avoid hair creases both in sleep and while awake, these scrunchies are crafted from 22-momme thick long-fiber mulberry silk, with exacting quality guidelines.
—Grace Smith, wsj.com, 4 Nov. 2023
Made from 100% pure mulberry silk, this pillowcase is gentle on hair and skin, preventing frizz and creases.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2023
This baby steamer works quickly to smooth creases and eliminate puckers from fabrics, and the long power cord provides flexibility when outlets are scarce.
—Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2023
At the rear, this bodywork terminates in a sharp crease that seems incongruous with the rounded contours elsewhere.
—Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 7 Sep. 2023
Verb
During our extensive concealer tests, the Maybelline concealer barely creased after six hours of wear.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023
Not just having to match tools with certain formulas, using the wrong tool may result in an undesirable finish– like splotches, caking, and creasing.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 10 Nov. 2023
And no smell, so creases, no fuzz, lint, or shedding.
—Lily Gray, Peoplemag, 2 Nov. 2023
Super lightweight and easy to spread into the skin for maximum coverage, this moisturizer proved to be nourishing during our testing period without creasing or settling into fine lines.
—Alyssa Rotunno, Travel + Leisure, 13 Oct. 2023
The formula feels lightweight on the skin and doesn’t ever crease or cling to the complexion.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2023
The eyeshadow is smooth to touch and the colors don’t crease.
—ELLE, 8 Sep. 2023
This helps to get rid of any creasing and loosen the curls for a more natural look.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2023
This altered design can be further customized via different creasing patterns and shapes to hone specific stiffness, flexibility, and strength—much like cellular shapes found within bones and honeycombs.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crease.' 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
probably alteration of earlier creaste, from Middle English creste crest
First Known Use
Noun
1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1588, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing crease
Dictionary Entries Near crease
Cite this Entry
“Crease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crease. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
crease
1 of 2 noun1
: a line or mark made by or as if by folding or wrinkling
2
: a specially marked area around the goal in various sports (as hockey or lacrosse)
crease
2 of 2 verb
creased; creasing
1
: to make a crease in or on
2
: to become creased
Medical Definition
crease
1 of 2 noun
: a line or mark made by or as if by folding a pliable substance (as the skin)
crease
2 of 2 verb
creased; creasing
: to make a crease in or on
aging had creased her face
: to become creased
More from Merriam-Webster on crease
Nglish: Translation of crease for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of crease for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crease
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