creak Hear it!

creak Definition

creak (krēk)

intransitive verb

  1. to make a harsh, shrill, grating, or squeaking sound, as rusted hinges do
  2. to move slowly with or as with such a sound

Etymology: ME creken, to make a sound like geese, crows, etc.; echoic var. of croken: see croak

noun

such a sound

creak Synonyms

creak

v.

creak Usage Examples

Object

  • floorboard: The building is old, and the creaking floorboards badly need replacing.
  • noise: Please hurry, the branch I'm holding just made a creaking noise!
  • timber: Moving through the creaking wooden timbers, I headed up a flight of spiral steps.
  • door: Time can be measured in lengths; a few inches of tape for a breath or a creaking door.
  • infrastructure: Considering Russia's creaking infrastructure, not to mention winters that defeated Napoleon and Hitler, the task could be Herculean.
  • bone: He tries to warm the cold, creaking bones in his back.

Converse of object

hear: He actually could hear the creaks of the walls settling.

Preposition: at

seam: The British constitution, at least in regard to England, is now creaking at the seams.

Adjective complement

open: I love this business... BIRMINGHAM Tossing in my bunk, I dream I see the gates of hell creaking open.

Modifying Another Word

  • slowly: An age seemed to go by before the door of the hut slowly creaked open.
  • already: I wonder how the already creaking transport network will cope with more residents?
  • now: The British constitution, at least in regard to England, is now creaking at the seams.
  • n't: Stepping up out of the bike, I did n't creak, I didn't groan and my bum didn't feel flat.
  • alarmingly: The home side's line out worked well but the scrum creaked alarmingly under pressure at times.

Used with why or when

when: The bottom bracket is creaking when I climb the hills.

Preposition: of

  • door: Ants tap dancing on the floor, the creaking of a bedroom door.
  • oar: At last, out of the darkness, came the faint creaking of oars.

Preposition: under

  • strain: It replaced an aging, mostly paper-based system which was creaking under the strain of the companyâs growth.
  • weight: Many an office floor in January creaks under the weight of all those mince pies.
  • pressure: F creaks under pressure & we all help finish washing up.

Browse dictionary entries near creak

  1. Creüsa
  2. CRC
  3. CRB Index
  4. crazyweed
  5. crazy quilt
  6. Crazy Horse
  7. crazy bone
  8. crazy about
  9. crazy
  10. crazily
  1. creaky
  2. cream
  3. cream cheese
  4. cream-colored
  5. cream of tartar
  6. cream puff
  7. cream sauce
  8. cream soda
  9. creamcups
  10. creamer