Definition & Meaning of "crawl"

to crawl

VERB

to move slowly with the body near the ground or on the hands and knees

Intransitive

Example

The baby began to crawl across the living room floor.

As the hikers reached the steep slope, they had to crawl on their hands and knees to navigate the challenging terrain.

The cat stalked its prey and then began to crawl silently through the grass.

to experience a sensation as if one's skin is covered or infested with crawling insects

Intransitive

to swim using the crawl stroke, a swimming technique characterized by a continuous fluttering motion of the legs and alternating arm strokes

Intransitive

Example

During the swim meet, the experienced swimmer effortlessly crawled through the water.

As part of the swim curriculum, the swimming instructor taught the children how to crawl.

The coach emphasized the importance of proper breathing technique while teaching the beginners how to crawl.

to behave or act in a servile or subservient manner, often with excessive flattery

Intransitive: to crawl | to crawl to sb

Example

During the job interview, the candidate chose to crawl by praising the company excessively.

The scheming character in the office was known for their ability to crawl to those in power.

The ambitious intern hoped to climb the corporate ladder quickly, so they resorted to crawling to their superiors.

(of a vehicle or its driver) to move very slowly, often in heavy traffic or difficult conditions

Crawl

NOUN

a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body

a very slow movement

a fast stroke characterized by alternating arm movements and a flutter kick

What is the "crawl"?

The crawl is a fast swimming stroke where a swimmer alternates their arms in a windmill motion, pulling the body through the water, while kicking with a flutter kick. The swimmer’s face stays in the water, turning to the side to breathe. This stroke is the quickest and most commonly used in competitive swimming. It requires good technique, strong arm strokes, and an efficient kick to maintain speed. The crawl is often used in freestyle races and is known for its efficiency and ability to cover long distances quickly.

Example

Crawl is often the preferred stroke for freestyle events.

His strong crawl technique earned him a gold medal.

She uses the crawl to cover long distances efficiently.

Example