creep

I UK [kriːp] / US [krɪp] verb [intransitive]
Word forms "creep":
present tense I/you/we/they creep he/she/it creeps present participle creeping past tense crept UK [krept] / US past participle crept
*

1) if someone creeps somewhere, they move there quietly and slowly

I crept downstairs when everyone was asleep.

She crept quietly into bed.

a) if someone's arm or hand creeps somewhere, it moves quietly and slowly

His arm crept around her shoulder.

A little hand crept across the table and touched my arm.

b) if something such as fire, the sun, or fog creeps somewhere, it moves slowly

The flames were creeping along the corridor behind him.

I watched the sunlight creep across the window.

As dusk crept in, lights came on.

c) if a vehicle creeps somewhere, it moves very slowly

The traffic kept creeping forwards a few inches and then stopping.

••

See:

flesh I

2)

a) if an expression or colour creeps into someone's face, it gradually appears there

creep across/into:

A little smile crept across her mouth.

A scarlet flush was creeping into her cheeks.

b) if an emotion or feeling creeps somewhere, someone gradually starts to experience it

creep in/into/across:

Suspicion began to creep into her mind.

She felt a tingling sensation creep across the back of her neck.

Phrasal verbs:

- creep by

- creep in

- creep up

- creep up on

II UK [kriːp] / US [krɪp] noun
Word forms "creep":
singular creep plural creeps

1) [countable] informal an unpleasant person, especially someone who tries to please or impress people in authority

I thought he was a nasty little creep.

2) [uncountable] a slow and gradual change or movement

•

- give someone the creeps