crease

UK: /ˈkriːs/ US: /kris/ ,(krēs)

Inflections of 'crease' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

creases

v 3rd person singular

creasing

v pres p

creased

v past

creased

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

crease¹ /kris/   n., v., creased, creas•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. a line or furrow on paper, cloth, etc., produced by folding, striking, etc.:
   a single crease on slacks.
2. a wrinkle, esp. one on the face:
   creases caused by age and worry.

v. 

3. to (cause to) become creased;
   wrinkle: [no object]
   his forehead creased with worry.
   [~ + object]
   Years of worry had creased his forehead.
4. to wound or injure slightly by a shot:
   [~ + object] The bullet just creased his shoulder.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

crease¹  (krēs), n., v., creased, creas•ing. 
n. 

1. a ridge or groove produced in anything by folding, heat, pressure, etc.;
   fold;
   furrow.
2. a wrinkle, esp. one on the face.
3. Clothing the straight, vertical edge or line produced in the front and back of trousers, esp. men's trousers, by pressing, as with a steam presser or iron.
4. Sport [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. Sport [Cricket.]
   • See bowling crease. 
   • See popping crease. 

v.t. 

6. to make a crease or creases in or on;
   wrinkle.
7. to wound or stun by a furrowing or superficial shot:
   The bullet merely creased his shoulder.

v.i. 

8. to become creased.

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

crease′less, adj. 
creas′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 6. crimp, pucker, furrow, fold.

crease²  (krēs), n. 

1. creese.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

crease / kriːs/ noun

1. a line or mark produced by folding, pressing, or wrinkling
2. a wrinkle or furrow, esp on the face
3. any three lines near each wicket marking positions for the bowler or batter
   See also bowling crease, popping crease, return crease
4. the small rectangular area in front of each goal cage
5. Also called: goal crease the circular area surrounding the goal

verb

1. to make or become wrinkled or furrowed
2. (transitive) to graze with a bullet, causing superficial injury
3. (often followed by up) to be or cause to be greatly amused

Etymology: 15th Century: from earlier crēst; probably related to Old French cresté wrinkled

ˈcreaseless adjective

ˈcreaser noun

ˈcreasy adjective

crease / kriːs/ noun

1. a rare spelling of kris