One syllable: crease.
/ˈkɹiːz/
Say it backCrease is a noun or verb referring to a line or ridge produced by folding, pressing, or crushing something, or the act of forming such a line. It can denote a permanent or temporary fold in fabric, paper, or skin, and as a verb, to crease means to cause such a line by bending or pressing. In garment contexts, creases indicate intentional folding for shaping or a crease line resulting from wear.
"She ironed the shirt to remove a stubborn crease."
"A deep crease appeared on the map as you folded it."
"The paper developed a crease when it was folded in half."
Pronounce it as /kriːz/ in US and UK. The word is a single syllable with a long /iː/ vowel and a final /z/. Start with a light, unvoiced /k/ release, then glide into /r/ with the tongue bunched near the palate, and finish with /iː/ followed by /z/. Ensure the lips are slightly spread for the long vowel and the final /z/ is voiced. IPA: US /kriːz/, UK /kriːz/. Audio reference: you can compare with words like 'freeze' or 'please'.
Common mistakes include misplacing the /r/ (dropping it or turning into a /w/ sound) and shortening the /iː/ to a lax /ɪ/ sound. Another error is voicing the final s as /s/ (unvoiced) instead of /z/; keep the final /z/ voice. To fix: practice the sequence /k r iː z/ in slow, then normal speed, ensuring a clear rhotic /r/ and a voiced /z/.
In standard US/UK, the pronunciation is /kriːz/ with a rhotic /r/ in US; UK tends to be non-rhotic in some dialects, but /r/ is still pronounced before a vowel in many accents. The long /iː/ remains consistent. Australian English also uses /kriːz/ with a similar long vowel; the rhoticity is variable, but the nucleus remains a tense high front vowel. Stress is stable as a single syllable.
The challenge lies in producing a clean, tense /iː/ vowel and a voiced final /z/ after an /s/ or /z/ sequence without shaping into /s/ or /z/ blending with an alveolar affricate. The /r/ in /kriːz/ requires careful tongue retrusion; for some speakers, /r/ can be tricky in non-rhotic dialects. Proper mouth shape for the long vowel and maintaining voicing through the final consonant are the main hurdles.
Yes—cresting or creasing involves a brief, controlled lip and tongue position to form a distinct nasal-voiced end /z/. For most speakers the difficulty is sustaining the final /z/ after a consonant cluster or after a preceding /iː/ vowel in quick speech. Focus on keeping the tongue high for /iː/ and ensuring the vocal folds vibrate for the /z/ without adding an extra syllable.
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The word crease originates from Middle English crève, crësen, linked to Old Norse þrýsta (to press) and Old English crèosan (to creep, to bend). The sense in textiles and paper developed from the notion of a fold or line created by pressing or bending. Historically, creases were deliberate in tailoring (pleats and creases in garments) and later referred to the natural or accidental lines formed by wear or movement. The term appears in English usage by at least the 16th century, with broader adoption in fashion and upholstery as mechanized pressing and ironing became common. Over time, crease also gained figurative senses (creases in maps, faces, and surfaces), reflecting the persistent mapping of a bend or fault line onto various materials and contexts. Today, crease remains a versatile word across fashion, crafts, and everyday seamwork, retaining the core idea of a formed, visible line. (200-300 words)
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "crease" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "crease" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "crease"
-ase sounds
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