creep

creep1 [ krip ] (past tense and past participle crept [ krept ] ) verb intransitive *

1. ) if someone creeps somewhere, they move there quietly and slowly:

I crept downstairs when everyone was asleep.

She crept quietly into bed.

a ) if a vehicle creeps somewhere, it moves very slowly:

The traffic kept creeping forward a few inches and then stopping.

b ) creep into/in/along/across if something such as fire, the sun, or fog creeps somewhere, it moves slowly:

The flames were creeping along the hall behind him.

As dusk crept in, lights came on.

I watched the sunlight creep across the window.

c ) if someone's arm or hand creeps somewhere, it moves quietly and slowly:

His arm crept around her shoulder.

A little hand crept across the table and touched my arm.

d ) AMERICAN to CRAWL

2. ) creep across/into if an expression or color creeps into someone's face, it gradually appears there:

A little smile crept across her mouth.

A scarlet flush was creeping into her cheeks.

a ) creep in/into/across if an emotion or feeling creeps somewhere, someone gradually starts to experience it:

Suspicion began to creep into her mind.

She felt a tingling sensation creep across the back of her neck.

b ) creep in/into to gradually start to affect or change something:

It seems that very few errors crept into the text.

,creep `by phrasal verb intransitive

if time creeps by, it passes very slowly:

The minutes seemed to be creeping by.

,creep `up intransitive

to gradually become larger in number or amount:

The sales figures keep creeping up.

The number of missing people has crept up to 40.

,creep `up on phrasal verb transitive creep up on someone

1. ) if something creeps up on you, it happens slowly or gradually so that you do not notice it happening:

It's funny how old age suddenly creeps up on you.

2. ) to move toward someone quietly and slowly, especially because you want to surprise them:

I didn't notice him creeping up on me.

creep

creep 2 [ krip ] noun

1. ) count INFORMAL an unpleasant person:

I thought he was a nasty little creep.

2. ) uncount a slow and gradual change or movement

give someone the creeps

to make someone feel nervous or frightened