Stream vs. Creek — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 21, 2023
A "stream" is a small, flowing body of water that may be perennial or seasonal. A "creek" is often considered a smaller, sometimes narrower type of stream, typically flowing into a larger body of water.
Difference Between Stream and Creek
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A "stream" is generally defined as a small, naturally occurring body of flowing water. Streams can vary in size and can be perennial, meaning they flow year-round, or seasonal. A "creek," on the other hand, is often considered a smaller and sometimes narrower form of a stream, and it usually flows into a larger body of water like a river or lake.
Both "stream" and "creek" are terms used to describe flowing water bodies, but they can differ in their geographical distribution. For example, in the United States, especially in the South and Midwest, the term "creek" is more commonly used, while "stream" may be the preferred term in other regions or countries.
In a technical or scientific context, the term "stream" might be used more universally to refer to any flowing body of water, including creeks, brooks, and rivers. "Creek," however, is less likely to be used in a technical manner and often implies a smaller, more specific type of stream.
While both "stream" and "creek" are primarily nouns, "stream" can also function as a verb, as in "water is streaming down," while "creek" does not have a common verb form. In general, "stream" is a more flexible term that can apply to a variety of flowing water bodies, whereas "creek" is often considered more specific and regional.
Comparison Chart
Size
Varies, generally larger
Often smaller, narrower
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Flow
Can be perennial or seasonal
Usually flows into larger water body
Regional Usage
More universal
Common in the U.S. South and Midwest
Technical Usage
Common in scientific descriptions
Less commonly used in technical context
Grammatical Role
Mainly a noun, can be a verb
Primarily a noun, no common verb form
Compare with Definitions
Stream
A moving current of water in a natural setting.
Fish swim against the stream to spawn.
Creek
A small, narrow, often shallow stream.
We waded through the creek to get to the other side.
Stream
A less sizable tributary of a river or lake.
The stream eventually leads into a large river.
Creek
A body of water used for drainage or irrigation.
The creek was constructed to drain the farmland.
Stream
A stream is a body of water with surface water flowing within the bed and banks of a channel. The flow of a stream is controlled by three inputs – surface water, subsurface water and groundwater.
Creek
A tributary that typically flows into a larger body of water.
The creek empties into the nearby lake.
Stream
A small, narrow river
A perfect trout stream
Creek
A stream confined within a bed and banks.
The creek's banks were lined with wildflowers.
Stream
A continuous flow of liquid, air, or gas
Frank blew out a stream of smoke
The blood gushed out in scarlet streams
Creek
A member of a Native American people formerly inhabiting eastern Alabama, southwest Georgia, and northwest Florida and now located in central Oklahoma and southern Alabama. The Creek were removed to Indian Territory in the 1830s.
Stream
A continuous flow of data or instructions, typically one having a constant or predictable rate.
Creek
The Muskogean language of the Creek.
Stream
A group in which schoolchildren of the same age and ability are taught.
Children in the top streams
Creek
A Native American confederacy made up of the Creek and various smaller southeast tribes.
Stream
(of liquid, air, gas, etc.) run or flow in a continuous current in a specified direction
She sat with tears streaming down her face
Sunlight streamed through the windows
Creek
A member of this confederacy. In all senses also called Muskogee1.
Stream
Transmit or receive (data, especially video and audio material) over the Internet as a steady, continuous flow.
Creek
A small stream, often a shallow or intermittent tributary to a river. Also called regionally branch, brook1, kill2, run.
Stream
Put (schoolchildren) in groups of the same age and ability to be taught together.
In the coming school year, we were to be streamed
Creek
A channel or stream running through a salt marsh
Tidal creeks teeming with shore wildlife.
Stream
A flow of water in a channel or bed, as a brook, rivulet, or small river.
Creek
Chiefly British A small inlet in a shoreline, extending farther inland than a cove.
Stream
A steady current in such a flow of water.
Creek
(British) A small inlet or bay, often saltwater, narrower and extending farther into the land than a cove; a recess in the shore of the sea, or of a river; the inner part of a port that is used as a dock for small boats.
Stream
A steady current of a fluid.
Creek
A stream of water (often freshwater) smaller than a river and larger than a brook; in Australia, also used of river-sized bodies of water.
Stream
A large amount or number moving or occurring in steady succession
A stream of commuters.
A stream of insults.
Creek
Any turn or winding.
Stream
A trend, course, or drift, as of opinion, thought, or history.
Creek
A small inlet or bay, narrower and extending further into the land than a cove; a recess in the shore of the sea, or of a river.
Each creek and cavern of the dangerous shore.
They discovered a certain creek, with a shore.
Stream
A beam or ray of light.
Creek
A stream of water smaller than a river and larger than a brook.
Lesser streams and rivulets are denominated creeks.
Stream
Chiefly British A course of study to which students are tracked.
Creek
Any turn or winding.
The passages of alleys, creeks, and narrow lands.
Stream
(Computers) A steady flow of data.
Creek
A natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river);
The creek dried up every summer
Stream
To flow in a stream or current.
Creek
Any member of the Creek Confederacy (especially the Muskogee) formerly living in Georgia and Alabama but now chiefly in Oklahoma
Stream
To pour forth or give off a stream; flow
My eyes were streaming with tears.
Creek
A natural watercourse smaller than a river.
The children played near the creek.
Stream
To move or arrive in large numbers; pour
Traffic was streaming by. Fan mail streamed in.
Stream
To extend, wave, or float outward
The banner streamed in the breeze.
Stream
To leave a continuous trail of light.
Stream
To give forth a continuous stream of light rays or beams; shine.
Stream
To emit, discharge, or exude (a body fluid, for example).
Stream
(Computers) To transmit or receive (audio or video content), especially over the internet, in small, sequential packets that permit the content to be played continuously as it is being received and without saving it to a hard disk.
Stream
A small river; a large creek; a body of moving water confined by banks.
Stream
A thin connected passing of a liquid through a lighter gas (e.g. air).
He poured the milk in a thin stream from the jug to the glass.
Stream
Any steady flow or succession of material, such as water, air, radio signal or words.
Her constant nagging was to him a stream of abuse.
Stream
All moving waters.
Stream
(computing) A source or repository of data that can be read or written only sequentially.
Stream
(figurative) A particular path, channel, division, or way of proceeding.
Haredi Judaism is a stream of Orthodox Judaism characterized by rejection of modern secular culture.
Stream
A division of a school year by perceived ability.
All of the bright kids went into the A stream, but I was in the B stream.
Stream
A live stream.
Stream
(intransitive) To flow in a continuous or steady manner, like a liquid.
Stream
(intransitive) To extend; to stretch out with a wavy motion; to float in the wind.
A flag streams in the wind.
Stream
(transitive) To discharge in a stream.
The soldier's wound was streaming blood.
Stream
(Internet) To push continuous data (e.g. music) from a server to a client computer while it is being used (played) on the client.
Stream
A current of water or other fluid; a liquid flowing continuously in a line or course, either on the earth, as a river, brook, etc., or from a vessel, reservoir, or fountain; specifically, any course of running water; as, many streams are blended in the Mississippi; gas and steam came from the earth in streams; a stream of molten lead from a furnace; a stream of lava from a volcano.
Stream
A beam or ray of light.
Stream
Anything issuing or moving with continued succession of parts; as, a stream of words; a stream of sand.
Stream
A continued current or course; as, a stream of weather.
Stream
Current; drift; tendency; series of tending or moving causes; as, the stream of opinions or manners.
Stream
To issue or flow in a stream; to flow freely or in a current, as a fluid or whatever is likened to fluids; as, tears streamed from her eyes.
Beneath those banks where rivers stream.
Stream
To pour out, or emit, a stream or streams.
A thousand suns will stream on thee.
Stream
To issue in a stream of light; to radiate.
Stream
To extend; to stretch out with a wavy motion; to float in the wind; as, a flag streams in the wind.
Stream
To send forth in a current or stream; to cause to flow; to pour; as, his eyes streamed tears.
It may so please that she at length will streamSome dew of grace into my withered heart.
Stream
To mark with colors or embroidery in long tracts.
The herald's mantle is streamed with gold.
Stream
To unfurl.
Stream
A natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
Stream
Dominant course (suggestive of running water) of successive events or ideas;
Two streams of development run through American history
Stream of consciousness
The flow of thought
The current of history
Stream
A steady flow (usually from natural causes);
The raft floated downstream on the current
He felt a stream of air
Stream
The act of flowing or streaming; continuous progression
Stream
Something that resembles a flowing stream in moving continuously;
A stream of people emptied from the terminal
The museum had planned carefully for the flow of visitors
Stream
To extend, wave or float outward, as if in the wind;
Their manes streamed like stiff black pennants in the wind
Stream
Exude profusely;
She was streaming with sweat
His nose streamed blood
Stream
Move in large numbers;
People were pouring out of the theater
Beggars pullulated in the plaza
Stream
Rain heavily;
Put on your rain coat-- it's pouring outside!
Stream
Flow freely and abundantly;
Tears streamed down her face
Stream
A small, naturally occurring, flowing body of water.
The stream flowed gently through the forest.
Stream
A flow of water that can be perennial or seasonal.
The stream dries up during the summer months.
Stream
To flow in a continuous current.
Tears began to stream down her face.
Common Curiosities
What is a creek?
A creek is often a smaller, narrower type of stream that typically flows into a larger body of water.
Do creeks flow into other bodies of water?
Yes, creeks often flow into larger bodies of water like rivers or lakes.
Is a creek smaller than a stream?
Generally, a creek is considered smaller and narrower than a stream, though this can vary.
Is the term 'creek' regional?
Yes, the use of 'creek' is often regional, especially common in the U.S. South and Midwest.
Can 'stream' be used as a verb?
Yes, 'stream' can also function as a verb to describe flowing movement.
Do streams flow year-round?
Streams can be perennial, flowing year-round, or seasonal, depending on the water source.
Is the term 'stream' used universally?
'Stream' is more universally used and can be found in technical or scientific contexts.
Can 'creek' be used as a verb?
No, 'creek' does not have a common verb form.
What is a stream?
A stream is a small, naturally occurring, flowing body of water.
Can 'stream' refer to man-made channels?
While it primarily refers to natural watercourses, 'stream' can sometimes describe man-made channels.
Can 'creek' refer to man-made channels?
'Creek' less commonly refers to man-made channels and is usually natural.
Are 'stream' and 'creek' interchangeable?
While similar, they are not entirely interchangeable due to differences in size, regional usage, and technical applicability.
Is 'creek' commonly used in scientific contexts?
'Creek' is less commonly used in technical or scientific contexts compared to 'stream.'
Do both terms refer to natural water bodies?
Yes, both 'stream' and 'creek' usually refer to naturally occurring water bodies.
What do 'stream' and 'creek' have in common?
Both 'stream' and 'creek' refer to flowing bodies of water but can differ in size and context.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
