Definition

Noun (plural form, used with a singular or plural verb) 1. A feeling of fear, unease, or revulsion: A sensation of something crawling on the skin, often caused by fear, disgust, or nervousness. It describes a visceral, physical reaction to something unsettling. 2. A disease of cattle and sheep: A specific animal disease caused by a dietary deficiency (typically phosphorus), resulting in symptoms like anemia, bone softening, and an abnormal, stiff gait.

Usage Examples

• Sense 1 (Feeling of fear/revulsion):

  • That old, abandoned house gives me the creeps.
  • Hearing that strange noise in the dark sent creeps down my spine.
  • I don't like him; he gives me the creeps.

• Sense 2 (Animal disease):

  • The veterinarian diagnosed the flock with the creeps.
  • A lack of minerals in the pasture can cause creeps in livestock.

Advanced Usage

• "to give someone the creeps": This is the most common idiomatic usage. It means to cause someone to feel fear, disgust, or strong unease.
  • His constant staring really gives me the creeps.
• The feeling is often described as moving or crawling, hence the verb association with "creep."

Variants and Related Words

• Creep (verb): To move slowly and carefully, often to avoid being noticed.
• Creep (noun, informal): An unpleasant or repulsive person.
• Creepy (adjective): Causing an uneasy feeling of fear or revulsion.
  • That was a creepy story.

Synonyms

• Sense 1: Heebie-jeebies, willies, shivers, goosebumps, unease, revulsion.
• Sense 2: (Technical terms) Osteomalacia (in adults), rickets (in young animals), phosphorus deficiency disease.

Related Phrases

• Make one's flesh creep: To cause someone to feel fear or horror. (Similar to "give someone the creeps").
  • The ghost story made her flesh creep.

Noun

1. a feeling of fear and revulsion
   • he gives me the creeps
2. a disease of cattle and sheep attributed to a dietary deficiency; characterized by anemia and softening of the bones and a slow stiff gait