What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Reak vs Creak - What's the difference?

reak | creak |

As nouns the difference between reak and creak

is that reak is (obsolete) a prank or reak can be a rush while creak is the sound produced by anything that creaks; a creaking.

As a verb creak is

to make a prolonged sharp grating]] or [[squeak|squeaking sound, as by the friction of hard substances.

reak

English

Etymology 1

Compare Icelandic hrekkr, or English wreak vengeance.

Noun

(en noun)
  • (obsolete) A prank.
  • * Beaumont and Fletcher
  • They play such reaks .

    Etymology 2

    Compare .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A rush.
  • * Drant
  • Feeds on reaks and reeds.
    (Webster 1913)

    creak

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The sound produced by anything that creaks; a creaking.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make a prolonged sharp grating]] or [[squeak, squeaking sound, as by the friction of hard substances.
  • * 1856 , Eleanor Marx-Aveling (translator), (Gustave Flaubert) (author), (Madame Bovary), Part III, Chapter 10:
  • Then when the four ropes were arranged the coffin was placed upon them. He watched it descend; it seemed descending for ever. At last a thud was heard; the ropes creaked as they were drawn up.
  • * 1901 , , (w, The Monkey's Paw):
  • He heard the creaking of the bolt as it came slowly back, and at the same moment he found the monkey's paw, and frantically breathed his third and last wish.
  • To produce a creaking sound with.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry.
  • * 20th century , Theodore Roethke, On the Road to Woodlawn
  • I miss the polished brass, the powerful black horses,
    The drivers creaking the seats of the baroque hearses

    Derived terms

    * creaky