/ kriːs; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
an untidy line that is made in cloth or paper when it is pressed or crushed :
She smoothed the creases out of her skirt.
a shirt made of crease-resistant material
2.
a neat line that you make in sth, for example when you fold it :
trousers with a sharp crease in the legs
—picture at suit
3.
a line in the skin, especially on the face :
creases around the eyes
4.
( in cricket ) a white line on the ground near each wicket that marks the position of the bowler and the batsman
■ verb
1.
to make lines on cloth or paper by folding or crushing it; to develop lines in this way :
[ vn ]
Pack your suit carefully so that you don't crease it.
[also v ]
2.
to make lines in the skin; to develop lines in the skin :
[ vn ]
A frown creased her forehead.
[ v ]
Her face creased into a smile.
► creased adjective :
I can't wear this blouse. It's creased.
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PHRASAL VERBS
- crease up | crease sb up
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: probably a variant of crest .