creek

/kriːk/ (bre, ipa) · [krˈik] /kriːk/ (ame, ipa) · [krˈik] /ˈkrēk ˈkrik/ (ame, mw)

creek — noun

  • creeksingular
  • creeksplural

1. a narrow body of salt water that reaches inland from the coast, formed where the

1.名詞B2
釋義

a narrow body of salt water that reaches inland from the coast, formed where the sea or a lake pushes into lower ground near the shore

例句

The children collected shells along the tidal creek that wound through the marsh.

collocation: tidal creek

A small fishing boat navigated the narrow creek at high tide to reach the open sea.

prepositional phrase: at high tide

同義詞
  • inlet

    a broader, more general term for any narrow body of water leading inland from a larger body

  • cove

    a small sheltered bay, more rounded and enclosed than a creek inlet

  • estuary

    the wider mouth of a river where tides meet fresh water, not as narrow as a creek

文法句型

the + creek

a + adjective + creek

常見錯誤

❌The tidal stream rose quickly' (when referring to sea water).
✅The tidal creek rose quickly.
💡A tidal creek carries salt water from the sea; a stream carries fresh water inland.

2. a small, narrow channel of fresh water that flows across the land, narrower and

2.名詞B1
釋義

a small, narrow channel of fresh water that flows across the land, narrower and shallower than a typical river

例句

The children skipped flat stones across the shallow creek behind their house.

activity collocation: skip stones across the creek

Clear water ran over smooth, rounded rocks in the creek at the bottom of the valley.

同義詞
  • stream

    the most common general word for any small flow of water; slightly broader than creek

  • brook

    a very small stream, often one you can step across; more poetic or rural than creek

  • rivulet

    a very small stream or trickle of water; formal or literary

反義詞
  • river

    a large natural water channel, much wider and deeper than a creek

文法句型

the + creek

a + adjective + creek

creek + verb (flows, runs, winds)

用法筆記

In American English, creek (sense 2) is the everyday word for a small natural water channel. In British English, the word stream is used instead for this meaning; creek in the UK usually refers to sense 1 (tidal inlet).

常見錯誤

❌They kayaked down the wide creek' (if it is as wide as a river).
✅They kayaked down the narrow creek.
💡If the water channel is wide enough for large boats, call it a river, not a creek.

3. a Native American people whose ancestral lands stretch across the forested river

3.名詞B2
釋義

a Native American people whose ancestral lands stretch across the forested river valleys of the American South, in the area now called Georgia and Alabama

例句

The Creek people built their towns along the rivers of what is now central Alabama.

proper noun: the Creek people

A museum in Oklahoma displays pottery and woven baskets from the Creek Nation.

proper noun: the Creek Nation

同義詞
  • Muscogee

    the name preferred by many members today, especially those in Oklahoma; Creek is the older European-given name

  • Muskogee

    an alternative spelling of Muscogee, used in some historical sources

文法句型

the + Creek

the Creek + noun (people, nation, tribe)

用法筆記

Always capitalize Creek when referring to the people. The group is also called the Muscogee Nation, especially by members now living in Oklahoma. Some members prefer Muscogee over Creek, since Creek was a name given by European settlers.

常見錯誤

❌The creek people lived in huts' (lowercase c).
✅The Creek people lived in towns with central plazas.
💡When referring to the Native American nation, the C is always capitalized.

4. a person who belongs to the Creek nation or is descended from the Creek people

4.名詞B2
釋義

a person who belongs to the Creek nation or is descended from the Creek people

例句

The museum hired a Creek to help design the new exhibit on tribal history.

countable: a Creek

As a Creek, Beatriz takes part in the annual stomp dance ceremony with her family.

pattern: as a Creek

同義詞
  • Muscogee

    the preferred self-identification for many members, especially in Oklahoma

文法句型

a + Creek

Creek + verb

as a + Creek

用法筆記

Some members prefer the term Muscogee and may find Creek outdated. When unsure, use the person's own preferred term or ask which name they use.

常見錯誤

❌She is a creek from Oklahoma' (lowercase).
✅She is a Creek from Oklahoma.
💡The ethnic label is always capitalized.

5. the Muskogean language traditionally spoken by the Creek people, now also known

5.名詞B2
釋義

the Muskogean language traditionally spoken by the Creek people, now also known as Muscogee

例句

The school offers classes in Creek for children who want to learn their ancestral language.

pattern: classes in Creek

Wen is studying Creek grammar at the university for her linguistics research project.

pattern: studying Creek

同義詞
  • Muscogee

    the modern name for the language, used by many speakers today

  • Mvskoke

    the name of the language in its own writing system

文法句型

Creek + noun (language, word)

speak + Creek

in + Creek

study + Creek

用法筆記

The language is also called Muscogee (or Mvskoke in the native writing system). Younger generations are working to revive it through school programs and digital resources.