creak
creak Lexical Profile
creak Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To make a harsh, grating, or high-pitched sound when being moved or when pressure is applied.
"The old wooden stairs creaked loudly under the weight of the heavy boxes."
To show signs of weakness, strain, or impending failure under heavy pressure (especially of a system, organization, or body).
"The city's aging public transit network is beginning to creak under the strain of record commuter numbers."
• noun
A harsh, grating, or high-pitched squeaking sound made when an object moves under pressure or lacks lubrication.
"The faint creak of the wooden floorboards alerted the dog that someone was walking down the hallway."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'creak' (a harsh, grating sound) with its homophone 'creek' (a small stream or narrow inlet of water).
• Rhymes for creak
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in Middle English as 'creken', the word is of imitative origin, coined to mimic a harsh, grating, or squeaking sound.