creature

Everyday

1. A creature is any living animal, big or small, like a bird, insect or fish. tree →
2. A creature can also be a made-up being in a story, like a dragon or a monster. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: a thing counted, often animals, bugs or monsters in a story; legs or eyes counted per creature make a rate, so multiply. In science: sea creatures, creatures of the rainforest, how creatures survive. In stories: strange creatures, magical creatures. Phrases: living creature, sea creature, a little creature, creature of habit.

Examples

• There are 9 creatures in the pond. tree →
• Each creature has 6 legs. tree →
• The game has 40 creatures to collect. tree →
• 3 creatures hid under the rock. tree →
• Crabs and starfish are sea creatures. tree →
• The dragon is a creature from old stories. tree →
• We found tiny creatures under the log. tree →
• Be kind to all living creatures. tree →
• The creature had three eyes and green fur. tree →
• Not a creature could be seen. tree →

Note

Say «CREE-cher». Usually used for animals, not for plants. Just the thing counted; legs or eyes «each» make a rate, so multiply. No clue to the operation by itself.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it means any living being made by God, such as fish, birds and land animals. The prophets and psalms also use it for the "living creatures" Ezekiel saw in his vision of God's throne, and for all the animals of the earth and sea.

Interpretation. Tradition teaches that every creature has value as God's work. After the flood the covenant was made with every living creature as well as people. Tradition reads the living creatures in Ezekiel's vision as angels that carry God's throne.

Examples

• And God said: 'Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let fowl fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.' (Torah GEN.1.20, JPS 1917) tree →
• And God said: 'This is the token of the covenant which I make between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: (Torah GEN.9.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• And God said: 'Let the earth bring forth the living creature after its kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after its kind.' And it was so. (Torah GEN.1.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• And out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. (Prophets EZK.1.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• In wisdom hast Thou made them all; the earth is full of Thy creatures. (Writings PSA.104.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning. (Prophets EZK.1.14, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Say «CREE-cher». Usually used for animals, not for plants. Just the thing counted; legs or eyes «each» make a rate, so multiply. No clue to the operation by itself.