Library / English Dictionary

CREAK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A squeaking sound

Example:

the creak of the floorboards gave him away

Synonyms:

creak; creaking

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("creak" is a kind of...):

noise (sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound))

Derivation:

creak (make a high-pitched, screeching noise)

creaky (having a rasping or grating sound)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make a high-pitched, screeching noise

Example:

My car engine makes a whining noise

Synonyms:

creak; screak; screech; skreak; squeak; whine

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "creak" is one way to...):

make noise; noise; resound (emit a noise)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sentence example:

The doors creak

Derivation:

creak; creaking (a squeaking sound)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Suddenly, as the landlady’s footsteps died away, there was the creak of a turning key, the handle revolved, and two thin hands darted out and lifted the tray from the chair.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There were cries of men, and churn of sleds, the creaking of harnesses, and the eager whimpering of straining dogs.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

An endless creaking was going on all about me, the woodwork and the fittings groaning and squeaking and complaining in a thousand keys.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The booms were tearing at the blocks, the rudder was banging to and fro, and the whole ship creaking, groaning, and jumping like a manufactory.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The stench of bad beef was in his nostrils, while in his ears, to the accompaniment of creaking timbers and groaning bulkheads, echoed the loud mouth-noises of the eaters.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

As he walked up and down that part of the courtyard which was at the side of the house, with the stray rooks and jackdaws looking after him with their heads cocked slyly, as if they knew how much more knowing they were in worldly affairs than he, if any sort of vagabond could only get near enough to his creaking shoes to attract his attention to one sentence of a tale of distress, that vagabond was made for the next two days.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

With many thanks, they said good night and crept in, hoping to disturb no one, but the instant their door creaked, two little nightcaps bobbed up, and two sleepy but eager voices cried out...

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Mina's morning and evening hypnotic answer is unvaried: lapping waves, rushing water, and creaking masts.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

At last however about two in the morning, I suddenly heard the gentle sound of a bolt being pushed back and the creaking of a key.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

As it was, he dropped upon his feet and kept his balance, though it sent a jar through his frame which set every joint a-creaking.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)