What does "crick" mean?
A painful muscular cramp or spasm of some part of the body, as of the neck or back, making it difficult to move the part affected.
Crick
/kɹɪk/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A painful muscular cramp or spasm of some part of the body, as of the neck or back, making it difficult to move the part affected.
- Grammar: crick is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: ache, acute pain, beck, bend.
- Useful contrasts: comfort, ease, heal.
- Usage evidence: Francis Crick was one of the discoverers of DNA's structure.
How to use "crick"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "crick" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "crick" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "crick" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "crick" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ache" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A painful muscular cramp or spasm of some part of the body, as of the neck or back, making it difficult to move the part affected.
- 2 Alternative form of creek. Appalachia, alt-of, alternative
- 3 The creaking of a door, or a noise resembling it.
- 4 a painful muscle spasm especially in the neck or back (‘rick’ and ‘wrick’ are British) wordnet
- 5 A small jackscrew.
Verb
- 1 To develop a crick (cramp, spasm).
"Stomach sleeping never worked for her because her neck cricked and pained in so short a time, that she never got the chance to fall asleep that way although the rest of her body snuggled well into the bed in that position."
- 2 twist (a body part) into a strained position wordnet
- 3 To cause to develop a crick; to create a crick in.
"He'd fallen asleep after all (and he'd done it in such a way as to crick his neck and his back and put his right arm to sleep; hardly a good start to a busy day) and now daylight was seeping through the bald patches in the thatch, ..."
- 4 To twist, bend, or contort, especially in a way that produces strain.
"He stopped a few feet from her, probably because he'd have to crick his neck to glare at her and that would just be embarrassing for him. “Dealing with garbage suits you.”"
Proper Noun
- 1 A village and civil parish in West Northamptonshire, Northamptonshire, England, previously in Daventry district (OS grid ref SP5872).
- 2 A small village in Caerwent community, Monmouthshire, Wales (OS grid ref ST4890).
- 3 A habitational surname derived from the placename.
"Francis Crick was the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Francis Crick was one of the discoverers of DNA's structure."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "crick"?
Common synonyms include: ache, acute pain, beck, bend, bite, boring pain.
How do you use "crick" in a sentence?
Francis Crick was one of the discoverers of DNA's structure.
How do you pronounce "crick"?
Pronounced /kɹɪk/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English crike, crykke (“muscular spasm of the neck”), attested since the 1400s. Likely related to Old Norse kriki (“bend; nook”), whence also crick (“creek”) and creek.
Etymology 2
See creek.
Etymology 3
See creak.