crease
Americannoun
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a ridge or groove produced in anything by folding, heat, pressure, etc.; fold; furrow.
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a wrinkle, especially one on the face.
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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.
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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.
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Cricket.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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a line or mark produced by folding, pressing, or wrinkling
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a wrinkle or furrow, esp on the face
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cricket any three lines near each wicket marking positions for the bowler or batsman See also bowling crease popping crease return crease
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ice hockey the small rectangular area in front of each goal cage
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Also called: goal crease. lacrosse the circular area surrounding the goal
verb
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to make or become wrinkled or furrowed
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(tr) to graze with a bullet, causing superficial injury
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slang (often foll by up) to be or cause to be greatly amused
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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creasesimple
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creasessimple
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have creasedperfect
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has creasedperfect
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am creasingprogressive
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are creasingprogressive
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is creasingprogressive
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have been creasingperfect progressive
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has been creasingperfect progressive
Past
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creasedsimple
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had creasedperfect
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was creasingprogressive
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were creasingprogressive
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had been creasingperfect progressive
Future
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."
Vocabulary lists containing crease
Mockingbird
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Iveliz Explains It All
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Vocabulary from Readings, Unit 5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Minimizing the crease is a priority for Apple, says Naranjo.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
When Stokes was involved - at the crease, or launching himself into another tireless spell - there was hope.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
During the procedure, an interventional radiology team makes a small incision near the crease of the leg.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 23, 2026
His best asset before June was having a body big enough to impede opposing goaltenders’ vision in the crease.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026
Shirley was young and pretty and she’d taught my sister, Lily, how to put a smudged brown line in the crease above her eyes and white shadow just beneath her brow.
From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English
Because while the long hair, the mustache and the Mercedes are all gone, a broad smile still creases the old goalie’s face.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2026
Her board was also padded, which reduced damage to fabrics and helped prevent garment creases during ironing, and it was collapsible, enabling easy storage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026
Dr Hussain says that, by targeting the dynamic wrinkles – the temporary creases we create when we make a facial expression – static lines are reduced in the long run.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2025
"All mammals have a neocortex, but it varies in size and complexity. Human and primate neocortices have folds while, for example, mice have a completely smooth neocortex, without any creases."
From Science Daily ● Mar. 27, 2024
Highlighting the creases of his jacket, the collar of his shirt.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
“No matter what I do, the beds still look a bit creased and worn, even grubby, in pictures.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 5, 2026
As she spoke, Lina's face creased and she cupped it in her hands.
From BBC ● Feb. 5, 2026
Khalil’s tired eyes creased at the corners, and a smile spread slowly across his face.
From Slate ● May 2, 2025
That’s like OGs rocking Stacys with the Dickies creased up, Dickies shirt or fully suited up.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2025
His face was so creased with worry, he looked at least a decade older.
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
He prefers reading newspapers over screens, still creasing the pages into a subway fold like he was taught as a child.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026
At this point, both the kids are born, Jimmy and Rosie, and they're at the door, just creasing themselves with laughter.
From Salon ● Feb. 19, 2024
"Overall it's not too bad for its age - but there is visible creasing and dust to the covering and some areas require a drop of glue to make good," the seller added.
From BBC ● Jan. 26, 2023
He began to punch in a response when the dispatcher hurried into the room with a look of deep anxiety creasing her face.
From Slate ● Nov. 26, 2022
“Because...” said Thor, creasing his brow and pondering so hard that distant thunder could be heard in the mountaintops.
From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
