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2 N‑COUNT A creed is a religion. [FORMAL ] □  The centre is open to all, no matter what race or creed.

creek /kriː k/ (creeks )

1 N‑COUNT [oft in names] A creek is a narrow place where the sea comes a long way into the land. [BRIT ]

2 N‑COUNT [oft in names] A creek is a small stream or river. [AM ] □  Follow Austin Creek for a few miles.

3 PHRASE If someone is up the creek , they are in a bad or difficult situation, or are wrong in some way. You can also say that someone is up the creek without a paddle . [INFORMAL ]

creep /kriː p/ (creeps , creeping , crept )

1 VERB When people or animals creep somewhere, they move quietly and slowly. □ [V adv/prep] Back I go to the hotel and creep up to my room. □ [V adv/prep] The rabbit creeps away and hides in a hole.

2 VERB If something creeps somewhere, it moves very slowly. □ [V adv/prep] Mist had crept in again from the sea.

3 VERB If something creeps in or creeps back, it begins to occur or becomes part of something without people realizing or without them wanting it. □ [V in ] Insecurity might creep in. □ [V + into ] An increasing ratio of mistakes, perhaps induced by tiredness, crept into her game. □ [V adv/prep] …a proposal that crept through unnoticed at the National Council in December.

4 VERB If a rate or number creeps up to a higher level, it gradually reaches that level. □ [V + up to ] The inflation rate has been creeping up to 9.5 per cent. □ [V up ] The average number of students in each class is creeping up from three to four. [Also V adj]

5 N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a creep , you mean that you dislike them a great deal, especially because they are insincere and flatter people. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]

6 PHRASE If someone or something gives you the creeps , they make you feel very nervous or frightened. [INFORMAL ] □  I always hated that statue. It gave me the creeps.

7to make someone's flesh creep → see flesh

▸  creep up on

1 PHRASAL VERB If you creep up on someone, you move slowly closer to them without being seen by them. □ [V P P n] They'll creep up on you while you're asleep.

2 PHRASAL VERB If a feeling or state creeps up on you, you hardly notice that it is beginning to affect you or happen to you. □ [V P P n] The desire to be a mother may creep up on you unexpectedly.

creep|er /kriː pə ^r / (creepers ) N‑COUNT Creepers are plants with long stems that wind themselves around objects.

creepy /kriː pi/ (creepier , creepiest ) ADJ If you say that something or someone is creepy , you mean they make you feel very nervous or frightened. [INFORMAL ] □  There were certain places that were really creepy at night.

creepy-crawly /kriː pi krɔː li/ (creepy-crawlies ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] You can refer to insects as creepy-crawlies when they give you a feeling of fear or disgust. This word is mainly used by children. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]

cre|mate /kr I me I t, [AM ] kriː me I t/ (cremates , cremating , cremated ) VERB [usu passive] When someone is cremated , their dead body is burned, usually as part of a funeral service. □ [be V -ed] She wants Chris to be cremated. ●  cre|ma|tion /kr I me I ʃ ^ə n/ (cremations ) N‑VAR □  At Miss Garbo's request there was a cremation after a private ceremony. □  Half of California's deceased opt for cremation.

crema|to|rium /kre mətɔː riəm/ (crematoria /kre mətɔː riə/ or crematoriums ) N‑COUNT A crematorium is a building in which the bodies of dead people are burned.

crema|tory /kriː mətɔːri/ (crematories ) N‑COUNT A crematory is the same as a crematorium . [AM ]