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Synonyms of crouch
crouch
7 dictionary results for: crouch
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
crouch       [krouch] Pronunciation Key
–verb (used without object)
1.to stoop or bend low.
2.to bend close to the ground, as an animal preparing to spring or shrinking with fear.
3.to bow or stoop servilely; cringe.
–verb (used with object)
4.to bend low.
–noun
5.the act of crouching.

[Origin: 1175–1225; ME crouchen, perh. b. couchen to lie down (see couch) and croken to crook1]

croucher, noun
crouch·ing·ly, adverb
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
crouch       (krouch)  Pronunciation Key 
v.   crouched, crouch·ing, crouch·es

v.   intr.
    1. To stoop, especially with the knees bent: crouched over the grate, searching for his keys.
    2. To press the entire body close to the ground with the limbs bent: a cat crouching near its prey.
  1. To bend servilely or timidly; cringe.

v.   tr.
To bend (the head or knee, for example) low, as in fear or humility.

n.   The act or posture of bending low or crouching.


[Middle English crouchen, probably from Old North French *crouchir, to become bent, variant of Old French crochir, from croche, hook; see crochet.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
crouch 
c.1394, probably from O.Fr. crochir "become bent, crooked," from croche "hook."

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
crouch

noun
1. the act of bending low with the limbs close to the body 

verb
1. bend one's back forward from the waist on down; "he crouched down"; "She bowed before the Queen"; "The young man stooped to pick up the girl's purse" 
2. sit on one's heels; "In some cultures, the women give birth while squatting"; "The children hunkered down to protect themselves from the sandstorm" [syn: squat

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Crouch, ID (city, FIPS 19720) Location: 44.11533 N, 115.97164 W
Population (1990): 75 (41 housing units)
Area: 0.8 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Crouch

Crouch\ (krouch; 129), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Crouched (kroucht); p. pr. & vb. n. Crouching.] [OE. cruchen, crouchen, crouken; cf. E. creep, G. krauchen, kriechen, or E. crook to bend, also crouch to cross.]

1. To bend down; to stoop low; to lie close to the ground with the logs bent, as an animal when waiting for prey, or in fear.

Now crouch like a cur. --Beau. & Fl.

2. To bend servilely; to stoop meanly; to fawn; to cringe. "A crouching purpose." --Wordsworth.

Must I stand and crouch Under your testy humor? --Shak.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Crouch

Crouch\, v. t. [OE. cruchen, crouchen, from cruche, crouche, cross. Cf. Crosier, Crook.]

1. To sign with the cross; to bless. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

2. To bend, or cause to bend, as in humility or fear.

She folded her arms across her chest, And crouched her head upon her breast. --Colerige.

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