v. & n.
v.intr. (past and past part. crept) 1 move with the body prone and close to the ground; crawl. 2 (often foll. by in, out, up, etc.) come, go, or move slowly and stealthily or timidly (crept out without being seen). 3 enter slowly (into a person's affections, life, awareness, etc.) (a feeling crept over her; crept into her heart). 4 colloq. act abjectly or obsequiously in the hope of advancement. 5 (of a plant) grow along the ground or up a wall by means of tendrils etc. 6 (as creeping adj.) developing slowly and steadily (creeping inflation). 7 (of the flesh) feel as if insects etc. were creeping over it, as a result of fear, horror, etc. 8 (of metals etc.) undergo creep.
n. 1 a the act of creeping. b an instance of this. 2 (in pl.; prec. by the) colloq. a nervous feeling of revulsion or fear (gives me the creeps). 3 sl. an unpleasant person. 4 the gradual downward movement of disintegrated rock due to gravitational forces etc. 5 (of metals etc.) a gradual change of shape under stress. 6 a low arch under a railway embankment, road, etc. creeping barrage a barrage moving ahead of advancing troops. creeping Jenny any of various creeping plants, esp. moneywort. creeping Jesus sl. an abject or hypocritical person. creep up on approach (a person) stealthily or unnoticed.
[ OE creopan f. Gmc ]