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creaky

/ˈkriki/

/ˈkriki/

Something that's creaky makes a groaning or scraping sound. If your front door is creaky, its hinges might need to be oiled.

The sound of footsteps on a creaky wood floor, or climbing your creaky stairs, can be spooky at night. You can also describe a hoarse or high-pitched voice as creaky, and your grandfather might sigh, "Oh, these creaky old knees," when he stands up. Creaky describes the grating sound, and also the worn out or run-down nature of old things or people. It comes from creak, which is imitative — its sound suggests its meaning.

Definitions of creaky
  1. adjective
    having a rasping or grating sound
    creaky stairs”
    synonyms: screaky
    noisy
    full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds
  2. adjective
    worn and broken down by hard use
    “a creaky shack”
    synonyms: decrepit, derelict, flea-bitten, run-down, woebegone
    worn
    affected by wear; damaged by long use
  3. adjective
    of or pertaining to arthritis
    “my creaky old joints”
    synonyms: arthritic, rheumatic, rheumatoid, rheumy
    unhealthy
    not in or exhibiting good health in body or mind
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