U.S., Canada, and Australia . a stream smaller than a river.

a stream or channel in a coastal marsh.

Chiefly Atlantic States and British . a recess or inlet in the shore of the sea.

an estuary.

British Dialect . a narrow, winding passage or hidden recess. ?

up the creek

Slang . in a predicament; in a difficult or seemingly hopeless situation.

noun

brook , brooklet , burn , crick , ditch , race , rill , rindle , river , rivulet , run , runnel , spring , streamlet , tributary , watercoursenotes:a stream is smaller than a river , a creek is smaller than a stream but larger than a brook ; stream , creek , and rivulet are applied interchangeably to any small river , arroyo , bay , bayou , bight , bourn , channel , cove , estuary , inlet , kill , ria , rio , runlet , stream , watercourse