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# creak

verb (creak, creaks, creaked, creaking); noun (a creak, creaks)

«creak» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To creak is to make a long, high, squeaking sound, like an old door, a wooden floor or stairs when they move or are walked on. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/creak/#m1)
2. A creak is that sound. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/creak/#m2)
3. To creak can mean to work badly because of being old or weak: «The old system is creaking». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/creak/#m3)

### In the lessons

In stories, especially spooky ones, creaking doors and floorboards build suspense; it is a good onomatopoeia for creative writing. In science lessons on sound, a creak happens when two surfaces rub and vibrate. In everyday life, oiling hinges stops them creaking. Phrases: «creaky door», «creak open», «creaking floorboards».

### Examples

- The old door creaked open. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/creak/#x1)
- I heard a creak on the stairs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/creak/#x2)
- The floorboards creaked as I tiptoed past. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/creak/#x3)
- Dad oiled the gate so it would stop creaking. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/creak/#x4)
- The ship's timbers creaked in the storm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/creak/#x5)
- In the dark, every creak made me jump. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/creak/#x6)
- Whenever the wind blew the Birch-tree creaked. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/creak/#x7)

### Note

Regular verb. Sounds exactly like «creek» (a small stream) — a homophone trap. Adjective: creaky (a creaky door). «Creak» is a long squeak; «crack» is a sudden sharp sound.

## In Jewish tradition

Amos says God will make the ground creak under Israel like a cart heavy with grain.

**Interpretation.** Read as a warning of judgment: God's weight will press on a people who ignore justice.

### Examples

- Behold, I will make it creak under you, as a cart creaketh that is full of sheaves. (Prophets AMO.2.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/creak/#x1)

### Note

Regular verb. Sounds exactly like «creek» (a small stream) — a homophone trap. Adjective: creaky (a creaky door). «Creak» is a long squeak; «crack» is a sudden sharp sound.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «creak» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/creak/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«creak» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/creak.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «creak» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/creak/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«creak» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/creak.html) on Mova free.