noun

creek

KREEK/kriːk/

A small natural stream.

A shallow creek flows through the woods behind our house.

A narrow, shallow freshwater stream winding between grassy banks, with visible pebbles beneath the water and small ripples around exposed stones.

Etymology

Middle English kryk named a narrow coastal inlet. Its extension to an inlet or short arm of a river probably led to the American English meaning “small stream.”

In context

Scott Lancaster0:07

you're going to have to cross a stream a creek or a river and today we're going to give you some tips and some pointers on how to do that

Backpacking Tip: Creek, River, and Stream Crossing

More examples

We cross the creek on a wooden footbridge.
Heavy rain makes the creek rise overnight.
Several small creeks feed into the lake.

Forms

creek · creeks

Similar words

brook: Brook often suggests a smaller stream than a creek.
stream: Stream is broader and includes waterways larger than creeks.