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creeper

/ˈkripər/

/ˈkripə/

Other forms: creepers

A creeper is a plant that grows very low to the ground or close to a wall or fence. Many types of ivy and other vines are creepers.

You might want to create some privacy in your yard by planting a creeper beside your chain link fence — it will creep along the ground and up the fence itself, forming a leafy barrier between you and your neighbors. Other kinds of creepers are small birds that tend to stay on the ground or creep around in trees and bushes. You can also use this word informally to mean someone who acts in a creepy, or inappropriate, way.

Definitions of creeper
  1. noun
    a person who crawls or creeps along the ground
    synonyms: crawler
  2. noun
    any plant (as ivy or periwinkle) that grows by creeping
    see moresee less
    type of:
    tracheophyte, vascular plant
    green plant having a vascular system: ferns, gymnosperms, angiosperms
  3. noun
    any of various small insectivorous birds of the northern hemisphere that climb up a tree trunk supporting themselves on stiff tail feathers and their feet
    synonyms: tree creeper
    see moresee less
    types:
    American creeper, Certhia americana, brown creeper
    a common creeper in North America with a down-curved bill
    Certhia familiaris, European creeper
    common European brown-and-buff tree creeper with down-curved bill
    Tichodroma muriaria, tichodrome, wall creeper
    crimson-and-grey songbird that inhabits town walls and mountain cliffs of southern Eurasia and northern Africa
    type of:
    oscine, oscine bird
    passerine bird having specialized vocal apparatus
Pronunciation
US

/ˈkripər/

UK

/ˈkripə/

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