creek
gb/kɹˈik/ us/kɹˈik/
A2
English
~ 2200
patak, öbölág, árapályos csatorna
NOUN
A2
1
patak
A2
Usage pattern:
a creek flows through [a place]
We followed the trail along the creek.
A patak mentén haladó ösvényt követtük.
After the rain, the creek overflowed its banks.
Az eső után a patak kilépett a medréből.
The kids played by the creek all afternoon.
A wooden bridge crossed the narrow creek.
Learner examples
There is a small creek near my house.
Van egy kis patak a házam közelében.
We walked to the creek to see the fish.
Elsétáltunk a patakhoz, hogy megnézzük a halakat.
The creek is very quiet in summer.
A bridge goes over the creek.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'creek' with 'crick', which is a different word meaning a pain in the neck or back.
Meaning
Small natural stream
Collocations
shallow creek
|creek bed
|cross the creek
|creek water
Synonyms
stream (A general term for flowing water, can be larger or smaller than a creek depending on region.)
Antonyms
river (A much larger natural flow of water compared to a creek.)
Themes
geography
|nature
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A small, natural flow of water, smaller than a river.
A narrow, natural stream of fresh water that is smaller than a river.
NOUN
B1
2
öbölág
B2
The boat was anchored in a quiet creek.
A hajó egy csendes öbölágban horgonyzott.
Mangroves lined both sides of the tidal creek.
Mangrovefák szegélyezték az árapályos csatorna mindkét oldalát.
This village grew up around a sheltered creek.
Learner examples
The boat is in the creek.
A hajó az öbölágban van.
We saw fish in the creek near the ocean.
Halakat láttunk az óceán közelében lévő öbölágban.
The creek goes far into the land.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with the freshwater stream sense, especially if only familiar with American English usage.
Meaning
Narrow sheltered inlet
Collocations
tidal creek
|fishing creek
|creek mouth
Synonyms
inlet (A general term for any narrow body of water between islands or leading inland from a sea or lake.)
Antonyms
headland (A piece of land that sticks out into water, opposite to an inlet.)
Themes
geography
|nature
|travel
Definition
A small, narrow part of the sea or river that goes into the land.
A narrow, sheltered waterway leading inland from a sea, river, or estuary, especially in coastal areas.
Grammar
Dictionary form
creek
IPA
GB/kɹˈik/
US/kɹˈik/
Syllables & stress
creek (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (creek)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: creek
- Plural: creeks
Word family
Forms
creeks
noun
Related words
creekside
adjective
Expressions
up the creek
1/ˈʌp ðə kɹˈik/
idiom
informal
In serious trouble
In a very bad or difficult situation without an easy way out.
Examples
- If we miss the last bus, we'll be up the creek.
- Without his passport, he was really up the creek.
up the creek without a paddle
1/ˈʌp ðə kɹˈik wɪðˈaʊt ə pˈædəl/
idiom
informal
in serious trouble with no help
To be in big trouble and have no good way to fix the problem.
Examples
- When the car broke down in the desert, they were up the creek without a paddle.
- When the funding was suddenly cut, the project team was up the creek without a paddle.
- If this plan fails, we'll be up the creek without a paddle.
- If we lose this client, we’ll be up the creek without a paddle financially.
- He realized he was up the creek without a paddle after he lost both his job and his apartment in the same week.