Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A living being, especially an animal.
  • noun A human.
  • noun An imaginary or fantastical being.
  • noun One dependent on or subservient to another.
  • noun Something created.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A created thing; hence, a thing in general, animate or inanimate.
  • noun Specifically, and most commonly, a living created being; an animal or animate being.
  • noun In a limited sense, a human being: used absolutely or with an epithet (poor, idle, low, etc., or good, pretty, sweet, etc.), in contempt, commiseration, or endearment: as, an idle creature; what a creature! a pretty creature; a sweet creature.
  • noun Something regarded as created by, springing from, or entirely dependent upon something else.
  • noun Specifically, a person who owes his rise and fortune to another; one who is subject to the will or influence of another; an instrument; a tool.
  • noun Intoxicating drink, especially whisky.
  • Of or belonging to the body: as, creature comforts.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Anything created; anything not self-existent; especially, any being created with life; an animal; a man.
  • noun A human being, in pity, contempt, or endearment.
  • noun A person who owes his rise and fortune to another; a servile dependent; an instrument; a tool.
  • noun A general term among farmers for horses, oxen, etc.
  • noun those objects, as food, drink, and shelter, which minister to the comfort of the body.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A created thing, whether animate or inanimate; a creation.
  • noun A living being; an animal or human.
  • noun A being subservient to or dependent upon another.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a human being; `wight' is an archaic term
  • noun a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
  • noun a person who is controlled by others and is used to perform unpleasant or dishonest tasks for someone else

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Existing since Middle English in the original sense of “a created thing”, borrowed via Old French, from Late Latin creatura, from creare.

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Examples

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  • CreATure

    cReATure

    CreatURe

    June 15, 2008