to move along with the body prone and close to the ground; to crawl

all creeping things — Bible

to go very slowly

The hours crept by

to move cautiously or quietly so as to escape notice

She had crept into the room and was standing beside him

(+ into) to become increasingly evident as an element in somebody's manner, etc

A note of irritation crept into her voice

informal to behave in a servile manner

said of a plant: to spread or grow over a surface by clinging with tendrils, roots, etc or rooting at intervals

said of a material: to change shape permanently due to prolonged stress or exposure to high temperatures

a creeping movement

Brit, informal an ingratiatingly servile person

informal a contemptuous term for a person one dislikes, esp a man

the slow change of dimensions of an object due to prolonged exposure to high temperature or stress