crease
B1Neutral. Common in everyday, business, and technical contexts (e.g., textiles, sports).
Definition
Meaning
A line or mark on a surface (especially fabric, paper, or skin) made by folding, pressing, or crushing it.
In sports, a designated line or area (e.g., in cricket, hockey, or lacrosse). Also used metaphorically for a state of disruption or agitation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can refer to both the result (the line) and the action (to cause the line). In sports, it's a specific, well-defined term. Often implies an unwanted or accidental line in fabric/paper.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. In US sports like hockey/lacrosse, 'crease' is standard. In cricket (UK/Aus/Ind), it's a core technical term.
Connotations
Slightly stronger negative connotation when describing clothing in UK English (e.g., 'horribly creased').
Frequency
Comparably frequent. 'Creases' (plural) for laughter lines/wrinkles is slightly more common in UK marketing/cosmetic contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[transitive] Please don't crease the document.[intransitive] Linen creases very easily.[phrasal verb] He creased up at the joke.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “crease up (UK informal: laugh uncontrollably)”
- “be in the crease (cricket: be batting)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Concern about a 'creased suit' in client meetings; 'crease-resistant' as a product feature.
Academic
In biology: 'skin creases'; in materials science: 'studying crease formation'.
Everyday
Ironing clothes, folding paper, noticing wrinkles on skin.
Technical
Cricket: 'bowling crease', 'popping crease'. Hockey: 'goalie crease'. Textiles: 'crease recovery angle'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Be careful not to crease your school blazer.
- He creased up when he saw the cat in a hat.
American English
- This fabric won't crease during travel.
- The comedian's joke made the audience crease with laughter.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used. Possibly in compounds like 'crease-resistantly treated').
American English
- (Rarely used. No standard adverbial form).
adjective
British English
- The letter arrived all creased and dirty.
- He wore a smart, crease-free shirt.
American English
- The map was too creased to read properly.
- She bought crease-resistant trousers for the trip.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There is a crease in my paper.
- My shirt is creased. I need to iron it.
- Be careful packing your suit so it doesn't get creased.
- The old map had deep creases from being folded for years.
- The goalkeeper stayed within the crease to avoid a penalty.
- Her brow creased in concentration as she solved the puzzle.
- The new polymer coating gives the fabric remarkable crease recovery.
- The batsman was given out for touching the ball while his foot was outside the crease.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CREASE in a pair of CREASEd trouSERS. The 'S' sound in 'crease' mimics the hiss of an iron smoothing it out.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS FABRIC (e.g., 'a crease in his plans', 'iron out the problems'). EMOTION IS PHYSICAL DISTORTION (e.g., 'his face creased with worry').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'crease' (складка, залом) and 'crease up/laugh' (валяться со смеху). The cricket term has no direct equivalent.
- Do not use 'морщина' for paper/fabric – it's primarily for skin. Use 'складка', 'загиб'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'crease' for a deliberate, decorative fold (use 'pleat').
- Confusing 'creased' (adj) with 'crinkled' (more small, random folds).
- Misspelling as 'creas', 'creese'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'crease' have a positive or neutral connotation?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very similar, but 'wrinkle' is more common for skin and aged materials, while 'crease' is more common for fabric, paper, and deliberate folds. They are often interchangeable.
Yes. As a verb, it means to make a fold or line in something (e.g., 'You creased the page') or, informally in UK English, to laugh a lot ('The joke creased me up').
It's a British informal phrasal verb meaning to start laughing uncontrollably. (e.g., 'His silly impression made us all crease up').
It's a specially marked area. In cricket, it's the white lines in front of the wicket. In ice hockey/lacrosse, it's the semi-circular area in front of the goal where special rules apply to the goalkeeper.