kri:p v. & n. --v.intr. (past
and past part. crept) 1
move with the body prone and close to the ground;
crawl. 2 (often foll. by
in,
out,
up, etc.)
come, go, or move slowly and stealthily or timidly (crept out
without being seen). 3
enter slowly (into a person's affections,
life, awareness, etc.) (a
feeling crept over her; crept
into her heart). 4 colloq.
act abjectly or obsequiously in the
hope of
advancement. 5 (of a plant)
grow along the ground or up a
wall by
means of tendrils etc. 6 (as creeping adj.) developing slowly and steadily (creeping inflation). 7 (of the flesh)
feel as if insects etc.
were creeping over
it, as a
result of
fear,
horror, etc. 8 (of metals etc.)
undergo creep. --n. 1 a the act of creeping. b an
instance of
this. 2 (in
pl.; prec. by the) colloq. a
nervous feeling of
revulsion or fear (gives me the creeps). 3 sl. an
unpleasant person. 4 the
gradual downward movement of disintegrated rock
due to
gravitational forces etc. 5 (of metals etc.) a gradual
change of
shape under stress. 6 a low arch under a
railway embankment, road, etc. øcreeping
barrage a barrage
moving ahead of advancing troops. creeping
Jenny any of
various creeping plants,
esp.
moneywort. creeping
Jesus sl. an
abject or hypocritical person. creep up on
approach (a person) stealthily or
unnoticed. [OE creopan f. Gmc]
