noun
crick
krihk
Crick (noun) means a sudden, painful stiffness in a muscle, usually in the neck or back, that makes it hard to move for a while. Example: “She woke up with a crick in her neck from sleeping awkwardly.”
noun
1
A sudden, painful stiffness in a muscle, usually in the neck or back, that makes it hard to move for a while.
"She woke up with a crick in her neck from sleeping awkwardly."
"Bending over the desk all day gave him a crick in his back."
verb
1
To twist or strain a part of the body, causing this kind of stiffness.
"He cricked his neck trying to look over the fence."
How to use crick
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small, sharp stiffness in your neck or back after sleeping or moving oddly.
Common pairings
a crick in the neck
crick in your back
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Word forms
- Plural
- cricks
- Third person singular
- cricks
- Past tense
- cricked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She woke up with a _____ in her neck from sleeping awkwardly.
Etymology
From Middle English crike/crykke, "a muscle spasm," possibly related to Old Norse kriki ("a bend or nook") — the same root that gave us "creek."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for crick
See all rhymes for crick →Frequently asked questions
What does “crick” mean?
The word “crick” means a sudden, painful stiffness in a muscle, usually in the neck or back, that makes it hard to move for a while. In plain terms, a small, sharp stiffness in your neck or back after sleeping or moving oddly.
How do you pronounce “crick”?
“Crick” is pronounced krihk (/kɹɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “crick” in a sentence?
Here is “crick” used in a sentence: “She woke up with a crick in her neck from sleeping awkwardly.”
What part of speech is “crick”?
Depending on how it is used, “crick” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “crick” come from?
The word “crick” comes from Middle English. From Middle English crike/crykke, "a muscle spasm," possibly related to Old Norse kriki ("a bend or nook") — the same root that gave us "creek.".
How many meanings does “crick” have?
“Crick” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sudden, painful stiffness in a muscle, usually in the neck or back, that makes it hard to move for a while.
