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crawl1
—crawlingly, adv./krawl/, v.i.1. to move in a prone position with the body resting on or close to the ground, as a worm or caterpillar, or on the hands and knees, as a young child.2. (of plants or vines) to extend tendrils; creep.3. to move or progress slowly or laboriously: The line of cars crawled behind the slow-moving truck. The work just crawled until we got the new machines.4. to behave in a remorseful, abject, or cringing manner: Don't come crawling back to me asking for favors.5. to be, or feel as if, overrun with crawling things: The hut crawled with lizards and insects.6. Ceram. (of a glaze) to spread unevenly over the surface of a piece.7. (of paint) to raise or contract because of an imperfect bond with the underlying surface.v.t.8. to visit or frequent a series of (esp. bars): to crawl the neighborhood pubs.n.9. act of crawling; a slow, crawling motion.10. a slow pace or rate of progress: Traffic slowed to a crawl.11. Swimming. a stroke in a prone position, characterized by alternate overarm movements combined with the flutter kick.12. Television, Motion Pictures. titles that slowly move across a screen, providing information.[1150-1200; ME crawlen < ON krafla; cf. Dan kravle to crawl, creep]Syn. 1. CRAWL, CREEP refer to methods of moving like reptiles or worms, or on all fours. They are frequently interchangeable, but CRAWL is used of a more prostrate movement than CREEP: A dog afraid of punishment crawls toward his master. CREEP expresses slow progress: A child creeps before walking or running.crawl2/krawl/, n. Chiefly South Atlantic States.an enclosure in shallow water on the seacoast, as for confining fish, turtles, etc.: a crab crawl.
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Universalium. 2010.
