squat

[ skwot ]
See synonyms for: squatsquattedsquattersquatting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),squat·ted or squat, squat·ting.
  1. to sit in a low or crouching position with the legs drawn up closely beneath or in front of the body; sit on one's haunches or heels.

  2. to crouch down or cower, as an animal.

  1. to settle on or occupy property, especially otherwise unoccupied property, without any title, right, or payment of rent.

  2. to settle on public land under government regulation, in order to acquire title.

  3. Nautical. (of a vessel, especially a power vessel) to draw more water astern when in motion forward than when at rest.

verb (used with object),squat·ted or squat, squat·ting.
  1. to cause to squat.

  2. to occupy (property) as a squatter.

adjective,squat·ter, squat·test.
  1. (of a person, animal, the body, etc.) short and thickset.

  2. low and thick or broad: The building had a squat shape.

  1. seated or being in a squatting position; crouching.

noun
  1. the act or fact of squatting.

  2. a squatting position or posture.

  1. a weightlifting exercise in which a person squats and then returns to an erect position while holding a barbell at the back of the shoulders.

  2. Nautical. the tendency of a vessel to draw more water astern when in motion than when stationary.

  3. Slang. diddly-squat.

  4. a place occupied by squatters.

Origin of squat

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (verb) squatten, from Old French esquater, esquatir, equivalent to es- + quatir, from unattested Vulgar Latin coactīre “to compress,” equivalent to Latin coāct(us), past participle of cōgere “to compress” (co- + ag(ere) “to drive” + -tus past participle suffix) + -īre infinitive suffix; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the verb; see origin at ex-1, co-

Other words for squat

Other words from squat

  • squat·ly, adverb
  • squat·ness, noun

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

How to use squat in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for squat

squat

/ (skwɒt) /


verbsquats, squatting or squatted (intr)
  1. to rest in a crouching position with the knees bent and the weight on the feet

  2. to crouch down, esp in order to hide

  1. law (tr) to occupy land or property to which the occupant has no legal title

  2. weightlifting to crouch down to one's knees and rise to a standing position while holding (a specified weight) behind one's neck

adjective
  1. Also: squatty (ˈskwɒtɪ) short and broad: a squat chair

noun
  1. a squatting position

  2. weightlifting an exercise in which a person crouches down and rises up repeatedly while holding a barbell at shoulder height

  1. a house occupied by squatters

Origin of squat

1
C13: from Old French esquater, from es- ex- 1 + catir to press together, from Vulgar Latin coactīre (unattested), from Latin cōgere to compress, from co- + agere to drive

Derived forms of squat

  • squatly, adverb
  • squatness, noun

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