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Webster 1913 Edition


Creak

Creak

(krēk)
,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Creaked
(krēkt)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Creaking
.]
[OE.
creken
, prob. of imitative origin; cf. E.
crack
,
and
. D.
krieken
to crackle, chirp.]
To make a prolonged sharp grating or squeaking sound, as by the friction of hard substances;
as, shoes
creak
.
The
creaking
locusts with my voice conspire.
Dryden.
Doors upon their hinges
creaked
.
Tennyson.

Creak

,
Verb.
T.
To produce a creaking sound with.
Creaking
my shoes on the plain masonry.
Shakespeare

Creak

(krēk)
,
Noun.
The sound produced by anything that creaks; a creaking.
Roget.

Webster 1828 Edition


Creak

CREAK

,
Verb.
I.
[L., Gr., to comb, scrape, rake; to cry.] To make a sharp harsh grating sound, of some continuance, as by the friction of hard substances. Thus, the hinge of a door creaks in turning; a tight firm shoe creaks in walking, by the friction of the leather.

Definition 2024


creak

creak

English

Noun

creak (plural creaks)

  1. The sound produced by anything that creaks; a creaking.

Translations

Verb

creak (third-person singular simple present creaks, present participle creaking, simple past and past participle creaked)

  1. (intransitive) To make a prolonged sharp grating or squeaking sound, as by the friction of hard substances.
    • 1856, Eleanor Marx-Aveling (translator), Gustave Flaubert (author), Madame Bovary, Part III, Chapter 10:
      Then when the four ropes were arranged the coffin was placed upon them. He watched it descend; it seemed descending for ever. At last a thud was heard; the ropes creaked as they were drawn up.
    • 1901, W. W. Jacobs, The Monkey's Paw:
      He heard the creaking of the bolt as it came slowly back, and at the same moment he found the monkey's paw, and frantically breathed his third and last wish.
  2. (transitive) To produce a creaking sound with.
    • Shakespeare
      Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry.
    • 20th century, Theodore Roethke, On the Road to Woodlawn
      I miss the polished brass, the powerful black horses,
      The drivers creaking the seats of the baroque hearses

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