noun
creature
KREE-chuh
noun
1
A living being, especially an animal.
"The forest was full of strange nocturnal creatures."
"Dolphins are intelligent, social creatures."
2
An imaginary or monstrous being, especially in fiction or myth.
"The film features a terrifying creature from the deep sea."
3
A person who is completely controlled by or dependent on someone else.
"The minister was dismissed as a mere creature of the party leadership."
How to Use Creature
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA living being, especially an animal, or a monstrous/fictional being.
Common pairings
living creature
creature comforts
creature of habit
Word Forms
creatures plural
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The forest was full of strange nocturnal _____.
Etymology
From Latin creatura, "a created thing," from creare, "to create" — originally used for anything that had been made, before narrowing to living beings.