crouch

[ krouch ]
See synonyms for: crouchcrouchedcrouching on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. to bow or stoop servilely; cringe.

verb (used with object)
  1. to bend low.

noun
  1. the act of crouching.

Origin of crouch

1
1175–1225; Middle English crouchen, perhaps blend of couchen to lie down (see couch) and croken to crook1

Other words from crouch

  • croucher, noun
  • crouch·ing·ly, adverb

Words Nearby crouch

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use crouch in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for crouch

crouch

/ (kraʊtʃ) /


verb
  1. (intr) to bend low with the limbs pulled up close together, esp (of an animal) in readiness to pounce

  2. (intr) to cringe, as in humility or fear

  1. (tr) to bend (parts of the body), as in humility or fear

noun
  1. the act of stooping or bending

Origin of crouch

1
C14: perhaps from Old French crochir to become bent like a hook, from croche hook

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012