cram crams, cramming, crammed
VERB If you cram people or things into a place, you put more in than there is room for. • I crammed my dirty washing into the washing machine.
cramp cramps
NOUN pain caused when muscles contract
cramped
ADJECTIVE If a room or a building is cramped, it is not big enough for the people or things in it.
crane cranes, craning, craned
NOUN 1 a machine that moves heavy things by lifting them in the air
2 a large bird with a long neck and long legs
VERB 3 If you crane your neck, you extend your head in a particular direction to see or hear something better.
crash crashes, crashing, crashed
NOUN 1 an accident in which a moving vehicle hits something and is damaged
2 a sudden, loud noise
VERB 3 If a vehicle crashes, it hits something and is badly damaged.
crate crates
NOUN a large box used for transporting or storing things
crater craters
NOUN a wide hole in the ground caused by something hitting it or by an explosion • The surface of the moon has many craters.
[from Greek krater meaning mixing-bowl]
crave craves, craving, craved
VERB If you crave something, you want it very much. • I craved a bar of chocolate.
craving NOUN
crawl crawls, crawling, crawled
VERB 1 When you crawl, you move forward on your hands and knees.
2 When an insect or vehicle crawls somewhere, it moves there very slowly.
crayon crayons
NOUN a coloured pencil or a stick of coloured wax
craze crazes
NOUN something that is very popular for a short time
crazy crazier, craziest
ADJECTIVE INFORMAL 1 very strange or foolish
2 If you are crazy about something or someone, you like them very much.
creak creaks, creaking, creaked
VERB 1 If something creaks, it makes a harsh sound when it moves or when you stand on it.
NOUN 2 a harsh, squeaking noise
creaky ADJECTIVE
cream creams
NOUN 1 a thick, yellowish-white liquid taken from the top of milk
2 a substance that you can rub into your skin to make it soft or protect it
ADJECTIVE 3 a yellowish-white colour
crease creases, creasing, creased
NOUN 1 an irregular line that appears on cloth or paper when it is crumpled
2 a straight line on something that has been pressed or folded neatly • Dad ironed a sharp crease in his best trousers.
VERB 3 If you crease something, you make lines appear on it.
create creates, creating, created
VERB If someone creates something, they cause it to happen or exist.
creation NOUN
creative
ADJECTIVE Creative people are good at inventing and developing new ideas.
creature creatures
NOUN any living thing that is not a plant
crèche crèches
NOUN a place where small children are looked after while their parents are working
[from old French crèche meaning crib or manger]
credit credits
NOUN 1 a system where you pay for something in small amounts, regularly over a period of time
2 praise given to you for good work
PLURAL NOUN 3 Credits are the list of people who helped make a film, record or television programme.
PHRASE 4 If your bank account is in credit, you have money in it.
credit card credit cards
NOUN a plastic card that allows someone to buy goods on credit rather than paying with cash
creek creeks
NOUN a narrow inlet where the sea comes a long way into the land
creep creeps, creeping, crept
VERB If you creep somewhere, you move there quietly and slowly.
creepy creepier, creepiest
ADJECTIVE strange and frightening • The film was creepy.
SYNONYMS: eerie, spooky
cremate cremates, cremating, cremated
VERB If someone is cremated when they die, their body is burned instead of buried.
crematorium crematoriums or crematoria
NOUN a building in which people are cremated
crescent crescents
NOUN a curved shape that is wider in the middle than at the ends, like a new moon
cress
NOUN a plant with small, strong-tasting leaves, used in salads
crest crests
NOUN 1 the highest part of a hill or wave
2 a tuft of feathers on top of a bird’s head
3 a special sign of something, such as a school or other organization
crevice crevices
NOUN a narrow crack or gap in rock
crew crews
NOUN The crew of a ship, aeroplane or spacecraft are the people who operate it.
cricket crickets
NOUN 1 an outdoor game played by two teams, who take turns at scoring runs by hitting a ball with a bat
2 a small, jumping insect that produces sounds by rubbing its wings together
cried
VERB the past tense and past participle of cry
crime crimes
NOUN an action for which you can be punished by law
criminal criminals
NOUN 1 someone who has committed a crime
ADJECTIVE 2 involving or related to crime
crimson
NOUN OR ADJECTIVE dark, purplish-red
crinkle crinkles, crinkling, crinkled
VERB 1 If something crinkles, it becomes slightly creased or folded.
NOUN 2 a small crease or fold
cripple cripples, crippling, crippled
VERB If someone is crippled by something, they are injured so severely that they can never move properly again.
crippling ADJECTIVE
crisis crises
NOUN a serious or dangerous situation • The food crisis was caused by drought.
crisp