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

Rihanna is making school cool with her newest take on the classic creeper style. —Erin Lassner, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Wear ice creepers attached to boots to prevent slipping on clear ice. —Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 11 June 2024

Given that creepers are a cornerstone of emo culture, might Rihanna now be plotting an alt-girl aesthetic, in the tradition of just about every other famous person in 2024? —Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2024

The glaze sort of looks like hot pepper jelly, and as such, its heat is more of a creeper than a palate crusher. —Tim Carman, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 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