So, I know I could totally go to the Google for this, but you know, I’ve never known the difference between a creek (or crick), stream, and brook. It occurred to me last week as we went for a trail ride and went over one of the little streams (creek? brook? run-off?) around the lake, that what I see as a stream is not what someone else sees.

We went over one of the culverts that had a steady stream of water going under it, rippling over the stones, and I said “I love these little streams!” My mother quickly said “That’s a creek, not a stream.” I asked what the difference was, and she had no answer. So, what do you consider a stream versus a creek versus a brook?

I see a creek as something that is barely moving, and very tiny and not wide at all. A stream to me is larger, and somewhat fast flowing. I see a brook as larger than a stream, and really flowing fast, with lots of stones for it to bound over. Is this correct? I don’t know, and I should probably figure out the difference at some point between now and when Little Man is bigger and I’m teaching him these things. But, until then, my stream is a stream, not a creek.