1 informal a detestable person:I thought he was a nasty little creep
a person who behaves obsequiously in the hope of advancement.
2 [mass noun] slow steady movement, especially when imperceptible:an attempt to prevent this slow creep of costs
the tendency of a car with automatic transmission to move when in gear without the accelerator being pressed:creep can be useful in slow-moving traffic or when parking
the gradual downward movement of disintegrated rock or soil due to gravity:stones and earth slowly slip down the slopes by soil creep
the gradual deformation of a plastic solid under stress:metals and ceramics can also exhibit creep
gradual bulging of the floor of a mine owing to pressure on the pillars:the mines were unworkable because of creep
3British an opening in a hedge or wall for an animal to pass through:low in the wall are creeps, through which ewes gain access to grazing from the pastures behind
a feeding enclosure for young animals, with a long, narrow entrance:young piglets spend most of their time in the creep
4 [mass noun]British solid food given to young farm animals in order to wean them:we’ve started to wean the lambs earlier and to keep them on creep
ზმნა
Universal
1 [usually with adverbial of direction] move slowly and carefully in order to avoid being heard or noticed:he crept downstairs, hardly making any noisethey were taught how to creep up on an enemy
(of a thing) move very slowly and inexorably:the fog was creeping up from the marsh
(of a plant) grow along the ground or other surface by means of extending stems or branches: (as adjective creeping)tufts of fine leaves grow on creeping rhizomes
(of a plastic solid) undergo gradual deformation under stress.
2 (creep in/into) (of a negative characteristic or fact) occur or develop gradually and almost imperceptibly:errors crept into his game (as adjective creeping)the creeping privatization of the health service
(creep up) increase slowly but steadily in number or amount:gas prices have been creeping up for a while
give someone the creeps
informal induce a feeling of revulsion or fear in someone:eels wriggle, they’re slimy, and they give some people the creeps
creep someone out
informal give someone an unpleasant feeling of fear or unease:an anonymous note like that would creep me out
creep to
British informal behave obsequiously towards (someone) in the hope of advancement:I’m not the kind of fellow that’s going to creep to anybody
