crease

1 of 2

noun

ˈkrēs 

1

: a line, mark, or ridge made by or as if by folding a pliable substance

2

: a specially marked area in various sports

especially : an area surrounding or in front of a goal (as in lacrosse or hockey)

creaseless

ˈkrēs-ləs 

adjective

crease

2 of 2

verb

creased; creasing

transitive verb

1

: to make a crease in or on : wrinkle

a smile creased her face

2

: to wound slightly especially by grazing

creased by a bullet

intransitive verb

: to become creased

creaser noun

Synonyms

Noun

• crimp
• crinkle
• furrow
• wrinkle

Verb

• crinkle
• furrow
• rumple
• wrinkle

Examples of crease in a Sentence

Noun

He ironed his pants to make the creases sharp.

a crease in the paper

tiny creases at the corners of his eyes

Players from the opposing team may not enter the crease.

The batsman moved out of the crease.

Verb

a neatly creased pair of pants

The pages of the book were stained and creased.

She looked up, her face creasing into a smile.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There are still nearly three weeks left in the window to iron out any creases, but full-back looks like being a major talking point this campaign unless something changes. —Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 12 Aug. 2024

While ingredients like retinoids, peptides, and vitamin C can all help make deeper wrinkles appear more shallow (building up your skin’s collagen will help smooth wrinkles out from the inside out), hyaluronic acid is often seen as a go-to choice for creases and folds. —Emily Orofino, Allure, 29 Oct. 2024

Verb

Remove all contents to prevent imprinting, then lightly stuff the bag with acid-free tissue paper to prevent creasing and help retain the bag’s shape. —Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2024

More to Know: Crafted from carbon steel with rounded silicone pads, this creates a natural-looking curl without creasing, tugging, or breakage. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably alteration of earlier creaste, from Middle English creste crest

First Known Use

Noun

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1588, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing crease

• pre-crease
• the crease

Kids Definition

crease

1 of 2 noun

ˈkrēs 

1

: a line or mark made by or as if by folding or wrinkling

2

: a specially marked area around the goal in various sports (as hockey or lacrosse)

crease

2 of 2 verb

creased; creasing

1

: to make a crease in or on

2

: to become creased

Medical Definition

crease

1 of 2 noun

ˈkrēs 

: a line or mark made by or as if by folding a pliable substance (as the skin)

crease

2 of 2 verb

creased; creasing

transitive verb

: to make a crease in or on

aging had creased her face

intransitive verb

: to become creased