Definition

1. Noun:

   • A line or ridge produced on paper, cloth, or other material by folding, pressing, or crushing it: A visible mark left when a surface is bent or compressed.
   • A slight depression or indentation in a smooth surface: A minor fold or wrinkle, often in skin or fabric.
   • A line on the ground in sports, such as cricket or hockey, marking the position of a player or the area of play: A designated boundary or area.

2. Verb:

   • To make a line or lines appear on a surface by folding, pressing, or crushing it: To cause something to develop folds or wrinkles.
   • To become marked with such lines: To develop folds or wrinkles.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • He carefully ironed the trousers to remove the crease.
  • The old map was faded and full of creases.
  • The cricket bowler must stay within the popping crease.

• Verb:

  • Be careful not to crease the pages of the book.
  • This new fabric doesn't crease easily, even after packing.

Advanced Usage

• "to be creased up": To be laughing uncontrollably.
  • The comedian's jokes had the audience creased up with laughter.
• "to crease something with laughter": To cause someone to laugh very hard.
  • That story creased me with laughter; I couldn't stop.

Variants and Related Words

• Creased (adj): Having lines or wrinkles.
  • He wore a smart but slightly creased shirt.
• Creasing (n): The action of making creases.
  • The creasing on this leather gives it character.
• Uncreased (adj): Smooth, without folds or wrinkles.
  • She delivered the important letter uncreased.

Synonyms

• Fold: A bend or line where something has been doubled over.
• Wrinkle: A small line or fold, especially on fabric or skin.
• Furrow: A long, narrow trench or groove, often in soil or on the brow.
• Ridge: A long, narrow elevation or line.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Crease up: (Informal) To start laughing very hard.
  • Every time he tells that joke, I just crease up.

Related Idioms

• To hit the crease: (Cricket) To bowl the ball from the correct position at the bowling crease.
  • The fast bowler hit the crease with perfect rhythm.
• A sharp crease: A very neat and distinct fold, often in clothing.
  • His suit pants had a sharp crease down the front.

Noun

1. a Malayan dagger with a wavy blade
2. a slight depression in the smoothness of a surface
   • his face has many lines
   • ironing gets rid of most wrinkles
3. an angular or rounded shape made by folding
   • a fold in the napkin
   • a crease in his trousers
   • a plication on her blouse
   • a flexure of the colon
   • a bend of his elbow

Verb

1. become wrinkled or crumpled or creased
   • This fabric won't wrinkle
2. scrape gently
   • graze the skin
3. make wrinkled or creased
   • furrow one's brow
4. make wrinkles or creases on a smooth surface; make a pressed, folded or wrinkled line in
   • The dress got wrinkled
   • crease the paper like this to make a crane