creak

noun
UK: /kriːk/
US: /kriːk/

  1. A sharp, harsh sound made by something rubbing or scraping.

    1. I heard a loud creak from the old wooden door.
    2. The floorboards creak every time someone walks across the room, especially at night.

Synonyms

grind squeak scrape
creak verb

  1. To make a sharp, harsh sound when rubbed or subjected to pressure.

    1. The old door will creak when you open it.
    2. I could hear the stairs creak as he slowly went up to his bedroom.

  2. To proceed or develop slowly or with difficulty.

    1. The negotiations began to creak under the pressure of the deadline.
    2. My project is starting to creak because I'm missing key resources this month.
creak adjective

  1. Making a high-pitched sound because parts are old, stiff, or rusty.

    1. That old rocking chair has a creak sound.
    2. The creak gate needs to be fixed before any guests arrive next week.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "creak" is /kriːk/ in British English and /kriːk/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "creak": grind, squeak, scrape.

Example usage of "creak": "I heard a loud creak from the old wooden door.". More examples on the page.