Totally guessing, man. A brook runs on the flattest ground of all these waterways you mention, it kind of meanders.

A stream runs a little faster, may have little falls and pools.

A creek is very like a stream but even faster, though less reliable as it can dry up…it’s often run-off from the snow.

A river is the culmination of all these waterways…they all eventually flow into the river, which usually flows (slow and/or fast) to a lake, sea, or ocean. Or, of course, to the Hetch Hetchy Dam. Was that ever a sad decision men made!

But all the waterways are fine to think about, thanks.

This is really a dictionary question rather than a science question. It is complicated by the fact that the word “creek” has very different meanings in different English dialects. Neither “river” nor “creek” is used by scientists as a technical word with a precisely defined meaning. In British English, “creek” means a small and narrow inlet of the sea, possibly a sunken river valley. In Australian, it means (roughly) a small river. In British English, the words “brook” or “stream” would be used instead. The best reference for North American usage (with which I am much less familiar) is Webster OnLine. From the way you seem to be using the word, I gather that your sense is fairly similar to the Australian sense. We have some “creeks” that are considerably larger, longer, or stronger flowing than some rivers. We have very few of either creeks or rivers that flow reliably all year round! I would imagine that you would have large “creeks” and small “rivers” in the USA also. The British usage is retained in a small number of Australian “creeks”, most notably in the area around Sydney harbour and the central NSW coast (e.g. Coal & Candle Creek).

It depends in which country you live. In England a brook runs into a stream, which in turn runs into, or becomes, a river. A creek is generally an inlet from the sea, or from a lake.

Australia and the USA and Canada have their own interpretations.

a brook is the smallest less than a foot deep and wide … then a stream is same depth as a brook but wider … a creek is wide and shallow… and a river is wide and deep … i think

if they arnt all in the same place.. the water is different?