crouch

American  

[krouch] / kraʊtʃ /

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.

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verb (used with object)

1. to bend low.

noun

1. the act of crouching.

crouch British  

/ 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

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

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noun

1. the act of stooping or bending

Other Word Forms

• croucher noun
• crouchingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of crouch

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

Example Sentences

When The Times connected with Reyes, she was crouched down backstage at the Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College in the Bronx.

From Los Angeles Times

I crouch down on the floor next to Jonah, and Maverick bounces to me, puts his paws on my shoulders, and slurps my face.

From Literature

The tall human crouched, plucked a piece of rubbish from the roadside, then stuffed it into a bag.

From Literature

The school alarm would pierce the air and teachers would instruct us to slide from our chairs, crouch under our desks facing the floor, and place our hands, fingers interlocked, over our necks.

From The Wall Street Journal

Seen through this lens, the Monroe Doctrine was more a defensive crouch than the posture of a global hegemon.

From Barron's

Related Words

• bend
• cower
• grovel
• huddle
• hunch
• kneel
• squat
• stoop
• wince