Definition

1. Verb:

   • To move slowly on hands and knees or by dragging the body close to the ground: This is the most common meaning, describing the movement of humans, animals, or insects.
   • To move or progress very slowly: Used to describe extremely slow movement or progress, often of vehicles or processes.
   • To be covered or swarming with (something unpleasant): Describes a surface that is unpleasantly full of moving insects, worms, or other small creatures.
   • To feel a sensation of insects moving on the skin: Often due to fear, disgust, or a physical reaction.
   • To behave in a very humble or flattering way towards someone to gain favor: To act in a servile or obsequious manner.
   • To swim using the crawl stroke: A specific swimming technique.

2. Noun:

   • A very slow rate of movement or progress.
   • A swimming stroke where the arms move alternately over the head while the legs perform a flutter kick (also called the front crawl).

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • The baby has learned to crawl. (Movement on hands and knees)
  • The traffic was crawling along the highway. (Moving very slowly)
  • The rotten fruit was crawling with ants. (Swarming with insects)
  • His story made my skin crawl. (Caused a sensation of fear/disgust)
  • He refused to crawl to his new boss for approval. (Behave in a servile way)
  • She can crawl faster than she can swim breaststroke. (Swim using the crawl stroke)

• Noun:

  • The project's development was reduced to a crawl. (Very slow progress)
  • She won the race with a powerful crawl. (The swimming stroke)

Advanced Usage

• "Make one's flesh/skin crawl": To cause a strong feeling of fear, disgust, or revulsion.

  • The sight of the spider made my flesh crawl.

• "Crawl back (to someone)": To humbly return to someone, especially after a disagreement, often to apologize or seek forgiveness.

  • After failing on his own, he had to crawl back to his old company for a job.

Variants and Related Words

• Crawler (n): A person or thing that crawls. Often refers to a slow-moving vehicle or a baby who crawls.
• Crawly (adj): (Informal) Causing a feeling as if insects are crawling on the skin; creepy.
  • The damp, dark cellar had a crawly feeling.

Synonyms

• Verb: Creep, inch, drag, slither, swarm, teem, grovel, fawn.
• Noun: Creep, snail's pace, front crawl.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Crawl with (something): To be completely covered or full of something, typically insects or people.

  • The market was crawling with tourists.

• Crawl into/out of (somewhere): To move into or out of a place by crawling.

  • The cat crawled into the box to sleep.

Related Idioms

• Go at a crawl: To move or proceed at a very slow speed.

  • During rush hour, the buses go at a crawl.

• Pub crawl/Bar crawl: A social activity involving visiting multiple pubs or bars in one night.

  • They organized a pub crawl for his birthday.

Noun

1. a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
   • a crawl was all that the injured man could manage
   • the traffic moved at a creep
2. a swimming stroke; arms are moved alternately overhead accompanied by a flutter kick
3. a very slow movement
   • the traffic advanced at a crawl

Verb

1. swim by doing the crawl; they often don't know how to crawl"
   • European children learn the breast stroke
2. show submission or fear
3. be full of
   • The old cheese was crawling with maggots
4. feel as if crawling with insects
   • My skin crawled--I was terrified
5. move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
   • The crocodile was crawling along the riverbed