creature
creature
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "creature" is /ˈkriːtʃər/.
First syllable (/ˈkriː/):
/k/ - voiceless velar stop (like the "k" in "cat")
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant (like the "r" in "red")
/iː/ - long high front unrounded vowel (like the "ee" in "see")
Second syllable (/tʃər/):
/tʃ/ - voiceless postalveolar affricate (like the "ch" in "church")
/ər/ - r-colored schwa (like the "er" in "butter")
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: creature
Plural Noun: creatures
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: Any living being, especially an animal, as distinguished from a plant, mineral, or human.
Synonyms: animal, being, organism, beast, brute
Antonyms: plant, human (in some contexts), inanimate object, mineral
Definition 2: A person, often used in a particular descriptive or affectionate way, sometimes with a sense of pity or contempt.
Synonyms: person, individual, being, soul, character
Antonyms: (Context-dependent, often no direct antonym)
Definition 3: Something created or imagined, often with a specific quality or characteristic, existing in fiction or a particular artistic work.
Synonyms: invention, construct, figment, entity, fabrication
Antonyms: reality, fact, truth
Examples of Use
Books:
"The creature was a grotesque distortion of human form, its skin pale and translucent, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light." (Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, 1818)
"Every living creature on Earth, from the smallest microbe to the largest whale, is interconnected in the vast web of life." (Jane Goodall, The Chimpanzees of Gombe: Patterns of Behavior, 1986)
Newspapers:
"Conservation efforts are underway to protect this rare creature, native to the cloud forests of South America, from extinction." (The Guardian)
"Local residents reported sightings of an unusual creature in the park last night, prompting speculation and a police investigation." (The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"Scientists recently discovered a new deep-sea creature with bioluminescent capabilities, expanding our understanding of ocean biodiversity." (National Geographic Online)
"The internet has become a haven for strange and wonderful creatures of all kinds, from viral memes to niche online communities." (Wired.com)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The creature from the black lagoon emerged from the depths, terrorizing the unsuspecting scientists." (Creature from the Black Lagoon, 1954)
Television Series: "In the latest episode, the detectives track a mythical creature believed to be responsible for a series of strange disappearances." (Supernatural, Season 12, October 2016)
Video Games: "Players must battle various fantastical creatures as they explore the vast open world and complete quests." (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, May 2015)
Music: "You're a beautiful creature, a mysterious delight, dancing through my dreams in the pale moonlight." (Lyrics from "Beautiful Creature" by a contemporary pop artist, June 2023)
General Public Discourse:
"My cat is such a lazy creature – all she does is sleep and eat." (Casual conversation)
"He's a truly remarkable creature, always full of energy and positive ideas." (Describing a person)
"Don't worry, it's just a little garden creature, probably a beetle." (Reassuring someone about an insect)
10 Quotes Using Creature
"What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me; no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so." (William Shakespeare, Hamlet, c. 1600-1602)
"I am a creature of habit." (Often attributed, but a common idiom)
"Every creature is better alive than dead, men and moose and pine trees, and he who understands it aright will rather preserve its life than destroy it." (Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854)
"Man is a creature who makes tools." (Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to M. Dubourg, 1779)
"How dreadful it is that because of the creature in the depths of our hearts, we should love in a way that is utterly unsuited to the laws of this world." (Rainer Maria Rilke, The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge, 1910)
"Nothing in the world is so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor." (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, 1843)
"A man's house is his castle." (Sir Edward Coke, Institutes of the Laws of England, 17th century)
"The human creature is a most curious animal." (Stephen King, The Stand, 1978)
"Imagination, that all-surrounding creature of the brain, is a dangerous gift." (Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, 1818)
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." (William Shakespeare, Hamlet, c. 1600-1602)
Etymology
The word "creature" has a fascinating journey through time!
It comes from the Latin word "creātūra", which essentially meant "a created thing" or "the act of creating." This Latin word itself came from "creāre," meaning "to make, to bring forth, to create."
From Latin, it moved into Old French as "creature" (or "criature") with a similar meaning of "created being" or "all of creation."
The first known use of "creature" in English appeared around the year 1300. At that time, its primary meaning was "anything created," which could refer to pretty much anything, whether it was alive or not. However, it quickly became most commonly used to mean "a living being."
Over time, the meaning expanded to include specific types of living beings, like animals (especially non-humans), and even people, sometimes used in a descriptive or emotional way (e.g., "a poor creature"). It also developed the sense of something created by a person, like a creature of imagination.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Creature
Creature of habit: Someone who prefers routines and predictability.
Creature comforts: Material things that contribute to physical ease and well-being.
Every living creature: A phrase emphasizing all life forms.
Poor creature: An expression of pity or sympathy for someone.
Night creature: An animal or person active at night.
A strange creature: Describing someone or something unusual.
A beautiful creature: Often used to describe an attractive animal or person.
Beast of burden: An animal used for carrying loads (using a synonym, "beast," for similar effect).
The animal spirits: Referring to lively or wild impulses (using "animal" as a synonym).
A rare bird: An unusual or unique person (using "bird" to refer to a type of creature).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of creature from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
