crouch Meaning & Definition
What Does Crouch Mean?
Crouch is a verb that means To bend down; to stoop low; to stand close to the ground with legs bent, like an animal when waiting for prey, or someone in fear. It can also mean To bend servilely; to bow in reverence or humility. As a noun, it means A bent or stooped position. As a noun, it means A cross.
Crouch: Key Facts
| Part of speech | verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈkɹaʊ̯t͡ʃ// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | bow, stoop and bend |
| Plural | crouches |
| Verb forms | crouches, crouching, crouched |
Crouch Definition (Verb)
- To bend down; to stoop low; to stand close to the ground with legs bent, like an animal when waiting for prey, or someone in fear.
We crouched behind the low wall until the squad of soldiers had passed by.
- To bend servilely; to bow in reverence or humility.
Crouch as a Noun
- A bent or stooped position.
The cat waited in a crouch, hidden behind the hedge.
Noun
- A cross.
Verb
- To sign with the cross; bless.
Synonyms of Crouch
Crouch synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Crouch
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Crouch in a Sentence
We crouched behind the low wall until the squad of soldiers had passed by.
The cat waited in a crouch, hidden behind the hedge.
Word Forms & Grammar
crouch (third-person singular simple present crouches, present participle crouching, simple past and past participle crouched)
crouch (plural crouches)
Words That Rhyme With Crouch
Origin of Crouch
Origin 1: From Middle English crouchen (“to bend, crouch”), variant of croken (“to bend, crook”), from crok (“crook, hook”), from Old Norse krókr (“hook”), from Proto-Germanic *krōkaz (“hook”), from Proto-Indo-European *gerg- (“wicker, bend”), from Proto-Indo-European *ger- (“to turn, wind, weave”). Compare Middle Dutch krōken (“to crook, curl”). More at crook.
Origin 2: From Middle English crouche, cruche, from Old English crūċ (“cross”). Compare Old Saxon krūci (“cross”), Old High German krūzi (“cross”). Doublet of cross and crux.
How to Pronounce Crouch
The standard pronunciation of crouch is //ˈkɹaʊ̯t͡ʃ//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Questions People Ask About Crouch
Is crouch a verb or a noun?
Crouch is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for crouch?
Words with a similar meaning to crouch include bow, stoop and bend. See the full list of crouch synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of crouch?
The plural of crouch is crouches.
What is the past tense of crouch?
The past tense of crouch is crouched. The present participle is crouching.