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River vs. Creek

Around 70 percent of Earth’s surface is covered by water, and oceans possess around 96.5 percent of the whole Earth water. Sea, river, lakes, creeks, ponds including oceans circulate Earth’s water to revive the living on planet. While differentiating in between river and creek, one doesn’t need any official or scientific guidelines as one of the most general difference between them is that rivers are of large size as compare to the creeks. A river is a natural steam, usually a repository of fresh water that flows in a channel to the sea, lake or any other river, whereas creek is a smaller and shallower stream as compare to river. It is often called a minor tributary of river. Creek is defined as the narrow waterway in between islands.

Key Differences

Creek is often called a minor tributary of a river.
River flows in channel and even splits into small streams like brook, rivulet, or creeks.
Rivers are generally freshwater repository, whereas creeks can also have salt water when formed with seawater.
A river is a natural steam, usually a repository of fresh water that flows in a channel to the sea, lake or any other river, whereas creek is a smaller and shallower stream as compare to river.
Generally, River is a large stream than a creek.

Comparison Chart

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A river is a natural steam, usually a repository of fresh water that flows in a channel to the sea, lake or any other river.
A narrow, sheltered waterway, especially an inlet in a shoreline or channel in a marsh is called creek.
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Size

More
Less

Freshwater or Saltwater

Rivers are generally freshwater repository.
creeks can also have salt water when formed with seawater.

Use

Multipurpose, can be used for transportation, generating power.
Shallow water so doesn't come up with such prominent benefits.
Aimie Carlson
Nov 05, 2016

Branches

Yes
No
Harlon Moss
Nov 05, 2016

River and Creek Definitions

River

Abbr. R. A large natural stream of water emptying into an ocean, lake, or other body of water and usually fed along its course by converging tributaries.

Creek

A member of a Native American people formerly inhabiting eastern Alabama, southwest Georgia, and northwest Florida and now located in central Oklahoma and southern Alabama. The Creek were removed to Indian Territory in the 1830s.
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River

A stream or abundant flow
A river of tears.

Creek

The Muskogean language of the Creek.

River

The fifth and last of the community cards in various poker games, especially Texas hold'em.

Creek

A Native American confederacy made up of the Creek and various smaller southeast tribes.

River

To win a hand in poker by beating (someone) on the basis of the last community card that is turned up.

Creek

A member of this confederacy. In all senses also called Muskogee1.
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River

A large and often winding stream which drains a land mass, carrying water down from higher areas to a lower point, oftentimes ending in another body of water, such as an ocean or in an inland sea.
Occasionally rivers overflow their banks and cause floods.

Creek

A small stream, often a shallow or intermittent tributary to a river. Also called regionally branch, brook1, kill2, run.

River

Any large flow of a liquid in a single body.
A river of blood

Creek

A channel or stream running through a salt marsh
Tidal creeks teeming with shore wildlife.

River

(poker) The last card dealt in a hand.

Creek

Chiefly British A small inlet in a shoreline, extending farther inland than a cove.

River

(typography) A visually undesirable effect of white space running down a page, caused by spaces between words on consecutive lines happening to coincide.

Creek

(British) A small inlet or bay, often saltwater, narrower and extending farther into the land than a cove; a recess in the shore of the sea, or of a river; the inner part of a port that is used as a dock for small boats.

River

One who rives or splits.

Creek

A stream of water (often freshwater) smaller than a river and larger than a brook; in Australia, also used of river-sized bodies of water.

River

(poker) To improve one’s hand to beat another player on the final card in a poker game.
Johnny rivered me by drawing that ace of spades.

Creek

Any turn or winding.

River

One who rives or splits.

Creek

A small inlet or bay, narrower and extending further into the land than a cove; a recess in the shore of the sea, or of a river.
Each creek and cavern of the dangerous shore.
They discovered a certain creek, with a shore.

River

A large stream of water flowing in a bed or channel and emptying into the ocean, a sea, a lake, or another stream; a stream larger than a rivulet or brook.
Transparent and sparkling rivers, from which it is delightful to drink as they flow.

Creek

A stream of water smaller than a river and larger than a brook.
Lesser streams and rivulets are denominated creeks.

River

Fig.: A large stream; copious flow; abundance; as, rivers of blood; rivers of oil.

Creek

Any turn or winding.
The passages of alleys, creeks, and narrow lands.

River

To hawk by the side of a river; to fly hawks at river fowl.

Creek

A natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river);
The creek dried up every summer

River

A large natural stream of water (larger than a creek);
The river was navigable for 50 miles

Creek

Any member of the Creek Confederacy (especially the Muskogee) formerly living in Georgia and Alabama but now chiefly in Oklahoma

What is River?

A river is a natural steam, usually a repository of fresh water that flows in a channel to the sea, lake, ocean or any other river. They are also recognized as one the biggest reservoir of fresh water. In ancient times different civilizations set alongside the rivers, as the river-side was used for multiple tasks. Even the invaders or the other civilizations got in battle with river-side civilizations to get hold of the rivers. Nile valley, Indus Valley Ganges civilization, Hueng He civilization and many other civilizations set alongside the rivers. Generally, rivers have freshwater and are large for that’s why they were used for living purposes like usage of freshwater in agriculture and household chores, the other reason they were taken much important for was that they were also used for transportation purpose. lakes and other water streams combine in to form rivers.

What is Creek?

Creek is recognized as the narrow waterway in between islands that is often called a minor tributary of river. Commonly, they are said to be smaller and shallower as compare to the rivers, though in USA and other areas there are the creeks which are quite of larger size as compare to the rivers. Surprisingly, there are several takes on what are creeks so in different areas of world creeks are defined differently. In North America and New Zealand a smaller water stream is called creek. In UK and Indian scenario a narrow inlet to the sea is called a creek. In Australia water stream of almost the river size is said to be a creek. Generally, creeks are formed with the river water after it split into small streams like brook, rivulet, though they can also be formed with sea water.

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