crease

A line left where paper, cloth, or skin has been folded or pressed together.

• There is a crease in my shirt.
• Iron the trousers to remove the creases.
• A deep crease appeared between his eyebrows.

How to use it: crease in something (There is a crease in the corner of the photograph.)

Similar words: fold, wrinkle

Common phrases: a deep crease, crease in something, trouser crease

A white line on a cricket field marking where players stand or bowl.

• The batter stood behind the crease.
• His foot crossed the crease as he bowled.
• She reached the crease before the ball hit the stumps.

Common phrases: popping crease, bowling crease, return crease

To make lines in paper or cloth by folding, pressing, or crushing it.

• Don’t crease the paper.
• My shirt creased in the suitcase.
• Sitting down had creased his trousers.

How to use it: crease something (Fold and crease the paper along the dotted line.)

Similar words: wrinkle, crumple

Opposites: smooth

Common phrases: crease the paper, crease a shirt, crease easily

To laugh very hard.

• That joke made me crease up.
• We were creasing with laughter at her story.
• He creased every time the dog made that noise.

How to use it: crease up (We creased up when we heard his answer.)

Similar words: laugh, crack up

Common phrases: crease up, crease with laughter

To slightly cut or injure the skin by passing close to it.

• The shot creased his arm.
• A bullet creased her shoulder but missed the bone.
• He survived with only a creased cheek.

How to use it: crease something (A bullet creased his cheek.)

Similar words: graze, scratch

Common phrases: crease someone’s shoulder, crease someone’s arm