creek /kriːk/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Old Norse ; Origin: kriki 'bend' ]
1 . American English Australian English a small narrow stream or river
2 . British English a long narrow area of water that flows from the sea into the land
3 . be up the creek (without a paddle) ( also be up shit creek (without a paddle) not polite ) spoken to be in a very difficult situation:
If I don’t get my passport by Friday, I’ll be up the creek.
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THESAURUS
■ a small river
▪ stream a small narrow river:
a cool mountain stream
▪ brook literary a small stream:
There was a small brook, rushing and sparkling along between green banks.
▪ creek a narrow area of sea that goes into the land, or a small river:
The River Fal with its many creeks was a perfect place for smugglers.
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The kids hunted for crabs in the muddy creek.