verb
Uncommon
crouch
KROWCH
Crouch (verb) means to bend the knees and lower the body close to the ground, often to hide, prepare to spring, or avoid being seen. Example: “The cat crouched low, watching the bird on the fence.”
verb
1
To bend the knees and lower the body close to the ground, often to hide, prepare to spring, or avoid being seen.
"The cat crouched low, watching the bird on the fence."
"Sprinters crouch at the starting blocks before the gun goes off."
noun
1
The bent, low position taken up when crouching.
"He dropped into a crouch behind the sofa."
How to use crouch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo bend down low with knees bent, like getting ready to jump or hide.
Common pairings
crouch down
crouch behind something
a low crouch
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Word forms
- Plural
- crouches
- Third person singular
- crouches
- Past tense
- crouched
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The cat _____ low, watching the bird on the fence.
Etymology
From Middle English crouchen, related to "crook" — ultimately from an Old Norse word for a hook, describing the bent shape of the body.
Related words
Rhymes for crouch
See all rhymes for crouch →Frequently asked questions
What does “crouch” mean?
The word “crouch” means to bend the knees and lower the body close to the ground, often to hide, prepare to spring, or avoid being seen. In plain terms, to bend down low with knees bent, like getting ready to jump or hide.
How do you pronounce “crouch”?
“Crouch” is pronounced KROWCH (/ˈkɹaʊ̯t͡ʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “crouch” in a sentence?
Here is “crouch” used in a sentence: “The cat crouched low, watching the bird on the fence.”
What part of speech is “crouch”?
Depending on how it is used, “crouch” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “crouch” come from?
The word “crouch” comes from Middle English. From Middle English crouchen, related to "crook" — ultimately from an Old Norse word for a hook, describing the bent shape of the body.
Is “crouch” a common word?
“Crouch” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “crouch” have?
“Crouch” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to bend the knees and lower the body close to the ground, often to hide, prepare to spring, or avoid being seen.
