crease

American  

[krees] / kris /

noun

1. a ridge or groove produced in anything by folding, heat, pressure, etc.; fold; furrow.

2. a wrinkle, especially one on the face.

3. the straight, vertical edge or line produced in the front and back of trousers, especially men's trousers, by pressing, as with a steam presser or iron.

4. Ice Hockey. the marked rectangular area in front of each goal cage, into which an offensive player can skate only if that player has the puck, if the puck is already within the area, or if the goalie is absent.

5. Cricket.

   1. bowling crease.

   2. popping crease.

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verb (used with object)

creased, creasing

1. to make a crease or creases in or on; wrinkle.

   Synonyms:

   fold, furrow, pucker, crimp

2. to wound or stun by a furrowing or superficial shot.

   The bullet merely creased his shoulder.

verb (used without object)

creased, creasing

1. to become creased.

crease ¹ British  

/ kriːs /

noun

1. a line or mark produced by folding, pressing, or wrinkling

2. a wrinkle or furrow, esp on the face

3. cricket any three lines near each wicket marking positions for the bowler or batsman See also bowling crease popping crease return crease

4. ice hockey the small rectangular area in front of each goal cage

5. Also called: goal crease.  lacrosse the circular area surrounding the goal

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verb

1. to make or become wrinkled or furrowed

2. (tr) to graze with a bullet, causing superficial injury

3. slang (often foll by up) to be or cause to be greatly amused

crease ² British  

/ kriːs /

noun

1. a rare spelling of kris

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Other Word Forms

• creaseless adjective
• creaser noun
• creasy adjective
• uncreased adjective

Etymology

Origin of crease

1400–50; late Middle English creeste, crest, apparently special use of crest

Explanation

A crease is a fold, wrinkle, or line, like the crease in your perfectly ironed pants or the worried crease in your dad's forehead when he sees you heading out into the snow without a hat and scarf. A crease can be straight and sharp — think of the creases in a folded paper airplane — or something more like a soft indentation, like the crease in your blankets telling you your cat was just there. It's a verb too: "If you lie on the floor, you'll crease your ball gown!" Etymologists guess that crease comes from crest and its root, which means "to turn or bend."

Example Sentences

Devon Toews was standing directly in front of the crease, mere feet away from scoring the goal that would dash the Americans’ dreams of winning their first gold medal in 46 years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

It’s a cyst at the base of the tailbone or top of the butt crease.

From Slate • Feb. 22, 2026

With Stewart at the crease, the tournament's lowest-ranked side needed 30 runs from the final two overs for an almighty upset.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

It brought Bethell to the crease and the left-hander immediately made a statement with two fours and a six off the same Malla over.

From Barron's • Feb. 8, 2026

Below the initials, pressed into the crease between the pages, someone stuck an upside-down photograph.

From "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher

Related Words

• crinkle
• pleat
• pucker
• wrinkle