CREATIVE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does creative mean? 

• CREATIVE (adjective)
  The adjective CREATIVE has 2 senses:

1. having the ability or power to create

2. promoting construction or creation

  Familiarity information: CREATIVE used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CREATIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having the ability or power to create

Synonyms:

creative; originative

Context example:

a creative imagination

Similar:

fanciful; notional (indulging in or influenced by fancy)

fictive (capable of imaginative creation)

imaginative; inventive ((used of persons or artifacts) marked by independence and creativity in thought or action)

yeasty (exuberantly creative)

Also:

original (being or productive of something fresh and unusual; or being as first made or thought of)

productive (producing or capable of producing (especially abundantly))

Attribute:

creative thinking; creativeness; creativity (the ability to create)

Antonym:

uncreative (not creative)

Derivation:

create (create by artistic means)

create (pursue a creative activity; be engaged in a creative activity)

creativeness; creativity (the ability to create)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Promoting construction or creation

Context example:

creative work

Similar:

constructive (constructing or tending to construct or improve or promote development)

Derivation:

create (create by artistic means)

create (pursue a creative activity; be engaged in a creative activity)

create (bring into existence)

creativeness; creativity (the ability to create)

 Context examples 

Mars will meet with Neptune December 13, indicating a day when you may see profit related to a creative project, perhaps something artistic or musical.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

She saw, with the creative eye of fancy, the streets of that gay bathing-place covered with officers.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Inner shear waves can not be directly observed as they are of such little energy so the researchers looked for a creative way to detect them.

(Earth's Core Confirmed to Be Solid After 80 Years of Study, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Forms of creative activity that involve performance before an audience (e.g., drama, dance, music).

(Performing Arts, NCI Thesaurus)

Those who reported more frequent daydreaming scored higher on intellectual and creative ability and had more efficient brain systems measured in the MRI machine.

(Daydreaming Is Good: It Means You're Smart, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

His face was bright with the creative glow, though she shivered in the cold room and had been struck by the coldness of his hands at greeting.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

IRA recipients are recognized for their creative ideas and scientific skills in advancing the goals of the National Cancer Institute.

(Intramural Research Award, NCI Thesaurus)

This is a creative, and very useful, convergence of scientific disciplines.

(Facial recognition technique could improve hail forecasts, National Science Foundation)

The Doctor of Philosophy degree is the highest academic degree awarded in recognition of creative scholarship and research in a field of study.

(Doctor of Philosophy, NCI Thesaurus)

“The creative joy,” I murmured.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)