creak

[kreek] /krik/
verb (used without object)
1.
to make a sharp, harsh, grating, or squeaking sound.
2.
to move with creaking.
verb (used with object)
3.
to cause to creak.
noun
4.
a creaking sound.
Origin
1275-1325; Middle English creken to croak, apparently back formation from Old English crǣcettan, variant of crācettan to croak
Related forms
creakingly, adverb
Can be confused
creak, creek, croak.
Examples from the web for creak
  • As you get older your bones start to creak when it gets cold.
  • Now the objects in your room-the bed lamps, the clock, the shutters-begin to rattle and creak in perfect rhythm.
  • She did not shift her feet during the recital-perhaps because the old wooden floor planks could creak loudly.
  • They stop at a partly hidden door, turn the key and push it open with an appropriately spooky creak.
  • After a couple of days the wood of houses dries so much it begins to creak.
  • But it takes a while for the elements of the film to creak into position for this anarchic explosion.
  • The second floor, reached by steep steps that creak as one ascends, is devoted to sewing.
  • The floors of the ground-floor galleries no longer creak.
  • But on that first night when she heard the creak of the swing, she did not think that she was dreaming at all.
  • He lets us hear the creak of oars and the scratch of pens, as well as the tubercular king fighting for every breath.
British Dictionary definitions for creak

creak

/kriːk/
verb
1.
to make or cause to make a harsh squeaking sound
2.
(intransitive) to make such sounds while moving: the old car creaked along
noun
3.
a harsh squeaking sound
Derived Forms
creaky, adjective
creakily, adverb
creakiness, noun
creakingly, adverb
Word Origin
C14: variant of croak, of imitative origin
Word Origin and History for creak
v.

early 14c., "utter a harsh cry," of imitative origin. Used of the sound made by a rusty gate hinge, etc., from 1580s. Related: Creaked; creaking. As a noun, from c.1600.

Slang definitions & phrases for creak

creak

verb

To show signs of wear; be near collapse: indications that their marriages are creaking (1930s+)