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Definition of creature noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

creature

noun
 
/ˈkriːtʃə(r)/
 
/ˈkriːtʃər/
Idioms
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  1. a living thing, real or imaginary, that can move around, such as an animal
    • respect for all living creatures
    • alien/strange/mythical creatures
    • octopuses and other sea creatures
    • The dormouse is a shy, nocturnal creature.
    Extra Examples
    • Dogs are more social creatures than cats.
    • I dreamt of evil creatures who were trying to catch me.
    • It is awesome to see these magnificent creatures in flight.
    • The newborn young are helpless creatures and easy prey for birds.
    • These timid little creatures exude a pungent smell when threatened.
    • Woodland creatures such as foxes and owls are increasingly common in towns.
    • a strange creature from another planet
    • the wild creatures of the forest
    • Goblins and other dangerous creatures lurked inside the cave.
    • We share the land with all living creatures and have a duty to preserve its riches.
    Topics Insects, worms, etc.b2, Animalsb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • living
    • primitive
    • simple
    See full entry
  2. (especially following an adjective) a person, considered in a particular way
    • You pathetic creature!
    • She was an exotic creature with long red hair and brilliant green eyes.
    • He always goes to bed at ten—he's a creature of habit (= he likes to do the same things at the same time every day).
    Extra Examples
    • She was a sociable creature; she liked people.
    • a complex/​an unhappy creature
    • a poor/​sad/​charming creature
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • living
    • primitive
    • simple
    See full entry
  3. Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘something created’): via Old French from late Latin creatura, from the verb creare ‘to produce’.
Idioms
a/the creature of somebody | somebody’s creature
  1. (formal, disapproving) a person or thing that depends completely on somebody else and is controlled by them
See creature in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee creature in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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