creek

Everyday

1. (US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) A creek is a small stream or narrow river. tree →
2. (UK) A creek is a narrow inlet where the sea or a river comes into the land. tree →
3. (idiom, slang) Up the creek means in trouble. tree →

In the lessons

In geography lessons, creeks are small streams that flow into rivers; in Australia, many creeks dry up in summer. In the UK, creeks are muddy inlets on the coast. In everyday North American and Australian life, children play and catch tadpoles in the creek. Safety: creeks can flood fast after rain.

Examples

• We caught tadpoles in the creek behind the house. tree →
• The creek dries up in summer. (Australia) tree →
• Boats were moored in the creek at high tide. (UK) tree →
• Don't cross the creek after heavy rain. tree →
• If we miss this bus, we're up the creek! (slang) tree →
• The creek joins the big river near town. tree →
• Clapping together their little hands, they chased one another along the edge of the creek. tree →

Note

Countable. Said kreek. Homophone: creak (a squeaky sound). In British English the usual word for a small stream is stream or brook; creek is mostly a sea inlet there.