/ kriːp; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb ( crept , crept / krept; NAmE /) [ v , usually + adv. / prep. ]
1.
( of people or animals ) to move slowly, quietly and carefully, because you do not want to be seen or heard :
I crept up the stairs, trying not to wake my parents.
2.
( NAmE ) to move with your body close to the ground; to move slowly on your hands and knees
SYN crawl
3.
to move or develop very slowly :
Her arms crept around his neck.
A slight feeling of suspicion crept over me.
4.
( of plants ) to grow along the ground or up walls using long stems or roots
—see also creeper
5.
creep (to sb) ( BrE , informal , disapproving ) to be too friendly or helpful to sb in authority in a way that is not sincere, especially in order to get an advantage from them
•
IDIOMS
see flesh noun
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PHRASAL VERBS
- creep in / into sth
- creep up
- creep up on sb
■ noun ( informal )
1.
a person that you dislike very much and find very unpleasant :
He's a nasty little creep!
2.
( BrE ) a person who is not sincere but tries to win your approval by being nice to you
•
IDIOMS
- give sb the creeps
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English crēopan move with the body close to the ground , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kruipen . Sense 1 of the verb dates from Middle English .