brook
1 (brŏŏk)
[Middle English, from Old English brōc.]
noun
Chiefly Northeastern U.S.- See creek
brook
2 (brŏŏk)
[Middle English brouken, from Old English brūcan, to use, enjoy.]
transitive verb: brooked, brook·ing, brooks.
- To put up with; tolerate: We will brook no further argument.
creek
(krēk, krĭk)
[Middle English creke, probably from Old Norse kriki, bend.]
noun
- A small stream, often a shallow or intermittent tributary to a river. Also called Also called regionally branch, brook1, kill2, run
- A channel or stream running through a salt marsh: tidal creeks teeming with shore wildlife.
- Chiefly British A small inlet in a shoreline, extending farther inland than a cove.
idioms
- up the creek (without a paddle)
- In a difficult, unfortunate, or inextricable position.