crease
Americannoun
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creases
plural
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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)
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creases,
present (3rd person singular)
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creased,
past participle, past
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creasing
present participle
verb (used without object)
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creases,
present (3rd person singular)
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creased,
past participle, past
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creasing
present participle
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:
Tongue's position on the crease also aids him in his speciality of targeting the stumps.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
Minimizing the crease is a priority for Apple, says Naranjo.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 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
There's still sleep dust in my eyes, the crease of the pillowcase on my skin.
From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper
September carrots can look almost too virtuous at the farmers market: sturdy bunches, feathery green tops, dirt in the creases.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
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
Stilfold uses a blunt wheel to make creases in sheet metal.
From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2026
His clothes, visible in the parted cloak, were pressed, almost stiff with creases.
From "Son" by Lois Lowry
Wizened and creased, with a hoop the size of a quarter dangling in his left ear, he relies on gestures—shrugs, grimaces, guffaws—to flesh out responses that lean terse.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
“Speed is your friend,” said Ro, whose face is perpetually creased by a smile.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 12, 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
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
Father turns his glass, suddenly so interested in his wine, his brows creasing, his concentration holding his emotions back.
From "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" by Mary E. Pearson
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.
