creep
2 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of CREEP
[no object]
1
:
to move slowly with the body close to the ground
-
A spider was creeping [=crawling] along the bathroom floor.
-
She crept toward the edge of the roof and looked over.
2
always followed by an adverb or preposition
a
:
to move slowly and quietly especially in order to not be noticed
-
I caught him creeping down the stairs to the kitchen.
-
She crept into bed next to her sleeping husband.
b
:
to go or seem to go very slowly
-
The hours crept by as we waited for morning.
-
a train creeping through the town
3
always followed by an adverb or preposition
:
to appear gradually and in a way that is difficult to notice
-
The price of gasoline has crept back up to three dollars a gallon.
-
A few mistakes crept in during the last revision of the paper.
4
of a plant
:
to grow along the ground or up a surface (such as a tree or wall)
-
ivy creeping up a wall
-
a creeping vine
5
British, informal + disapproving
:
to be extremely nice to someone in order to get approval or some advantage for yourself
-
He's been creeping (up) to the boss for months, so it's no surprise he got a promotion.
creep out
[phrasal verb]
creep (someone) out
or
creep out (someone)
US, informal
:
to cause (someone) to have an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness or fear
:
to give (someone) the creeps
-
That guy really creeps me out.
◊ For creep out, the past tense and past participle creeped is used instead of crept.
-
I felt creeped out being alone in the office at night.
creep up on
[phrasal verb]
creep up on (someone)
informal
:
to slowly and quietly move closer to (someone) without being noticed
— often used figuratively
-
We tried to creep up on [=sneak up on] them but they heard our footsteps.
-
Old age creeps up on us.
-
The deadline crept up on me.
make your skin/flesh creep
◊ If something makes your skin/flesh creep, it causes you to have an uncomfortable feeling of fear or disgust.
-
The thought of touching that slimy mess makes my skin creep.
2
creep
/ˈkriːp/
noun
plural
creeps
2
creep
/ˈkriːp/
noun
plural
creeps
Britannica Dictionary definition of CREEP
informal
1
[count]
:
a strange person who you strongly dislike
-
Leave me alone, you creep! [=jerk, weirdo]
2
the creeps
:
an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness or fear
-
I get the creeps every time he walks by.
-
I hate snakes. They give me the creeps.
-
That guy gives me the creeps.
