creep

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to happen or change very slowly over a long time.

v. to occur or develop gradually and almost imperceptibly.

“Doubt began to creep into her mind as the deadline approached.”

“Errors began to creep into the data set after the software update, causing significant discrepancies in the final quarterly report.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to grow along the ground or over a wall instead of growing upwards.

v. to grow along a surface by means of extending stems or roots.

“Ivy started to creep across the old stone walls of the garden.”

“The invasive vines began to creep over the perimeter fence, eventually smothering the native shrubs in the lower garden.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. an unpleasant person who makes you feel nervous or uncomfortable.

n. a derogatory term for a person perceived as strange, eccentric, or socially inappropriate, often with a predatory connotation.

“That guy at the party was a total creep; he wouldn't stop staring at us.”

“She felt uneasy when the stranger followed her into the lift, later describing him to security as a complete creep.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Academic · Formal

n. when a project or plan slowly grows bigger than it was supposed to be.

n. the gradual expansion of a project, goal, or boundary beyond its original scope, typically viewed as a negative development.

“We need to finish the project now before more feature creep happens.”

“The manager warned that mission creep was draining the department's resources, distracting the team from their primary objectives.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Technical

n. the slow change in the shape of a solid material because of heat or pressure.

n. the slow, progressive deformation of a solid material under constant mechanical stress.

“Engineers must consider the creep of the metal when designing jet engines.”

“The structural integrity of the bridge was compromised by thermal creep, as the lead supports had gradually shifted over decades of extreme temperature fluctuations.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Technical

n. the very slow movement of soil or rocks down a hill.

n. the slow, imperceptible downslope movement of surface rock and soil particles.

“You can see the effects of soil creep by the way the trees lean on the hillside.”

“Geologists monitored the hillside for signs of creep, noting that the fence line had moved several inches since the previous survey.”