no obj.
1- (of an object, typically a wooden one) make a harsh high-pitched sound when being moved or when pressure or weight is applied（常指木制品被搬动、受压或受力时）嘎吱嘎吱作响：
the stairs creaked as she went up them
她上楼时楼梯发出嘎吱嘎吱的声音
with complement the garden gate creaked open.花园门吱呀一声打开了。
1.1
- figurative show weakness or frailty under strain〈喻〉（因过劳或紧张）显得虚弱（或脆弱）：
the system started to creak.
系统开始显得老旧了。
- a harsh scraping or squeaking sound嘎吱嘎吱的响声：
the creak of a floorboard broke the silence.
地板发出的嘎吱嘎吱声打破了沉寂。
派生词
creakingly
adverb词源
Middle English （as a verb in the sense 'croak'）：imitative.