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   creep

   /kriːp/

   verb

   • 1. move slowly and carefully in order to avoid being heard or noticed: "he crept downstairs, hardly making any noise" Similar crawlmove on all foursmove on hands and kneespull oneselfinchedgeslitherslidesquirmwrigglewrithewormworm one's wayinsinuate oneselfsneakstealslipslinksidleskulkpadprowltiptoepussyfootsoft-shoetread warilymove stealthilymove furtivelymove unnoticedwalk quietly
   • ▪ (of a thing) move very slowly and inexorably: "the fog was creeping up from the marsh"
   • 2. (of a plant) grow along the ground or other surface by means of extending stems or branches: "thorny roses crept up the dull gray walls"
   • 3. (of a plastic solid) undergo gradual deformation under stress.

   noun

   • 1. a detestable person: informal, derogatory "I thought he was a nasty little creep" Similar roguevillainwretchreprobateinformal:beastpigratlousesnakesnake in the grassskunkweasellowlifescumbagheelstinkerstinkpotson of a bitchSOBnasty piece of workscroteblighterbad lotspalpeensleeveenrat finkfinkdingoderogatory:bastarddogdirty dogderogatory, informal:swineinformal, dated:houndbounderrottervulgar slang:shitdated:cadscoundrelarchaic:blackguarddastardvagabondknavevarletcurwastrel
   • ▪ a person who behaves obsequiously in the hope of advancement. Similar sycophantobsequious personcrawlergrovellertrucklertoadyfawnerflattererlickspittledoormatkowtowerspanielUriah Heepinformal:bootlickeryes-mansuck-upbrown-nosebrown-noservulgar slang:arse-lickerbum-suckerass-kissersuckholearchaic:toad-eater
   • 2. slow steady movement, especially when imperceptible: "an attempt to prevent this slow creep of costs"
   • ▪ the tendency of a car with automatic transmission to move when in gear without the accelerator being pressed: "creep can be useful in slow-moving traffic or when parking"
   • ▪ the gradual downward movement of disintegrated rock or soil due to gravity: "stones and earth slowly slip down the slopes by soil creep"
   • ▪ the gradual deformation of a plastic solid under stress: "metals and ceramics can also exhibit creep"
   • ▪ gradual bulging of the floor of a mine owing to pressure on the pillars: "the mines were unworkable because of creep"
   • 3. an opening in a hedge or wall for an animal to pass through: British "low in the wall are creeps, through which ewes gain access to grazing from the pastures behind"
   • ▪ a feeding enclosure for young animals, with a long, narrow entrance: "young piglets spend most of their time in the creep"
   • 4. solid food given to young farm animals in order to wean them: British "we've started to wean the lambs earlier and to keep them on creep"

   Word Origin Old Englishcrēopan ‘move with the body close to the ground’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kruipen. Sense 1 of the verb dates from Middle English.

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • C

     3

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • E

     1

   • P

     3

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