Definition

1. Noun:
   • A slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body: The act of moving forward with the body close to the ground, typically using the hands and knees.
   • A very slow rate of movement or progress: Used figuratively to describe something that moves or advances extremely slowly.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The baby's crawling is an important developmental milestone.
  • After the marathon, his legs were so sore that his movement was reduced to a painful crawling.
  • The crawling of the traffic made us an hour late.
  • The project's progress was a mere crawling, frustrating everyone involved.

Advanced Usage

• "At a crawling pace": Moving or progressing extremely slowly.
  • The negotiations proceeded at a crawling pace, with little progress each day.
• "Crawling with (something)": (This is a common idiomatic use of the verb "to crawl," not the noun "crawling"). To be covered or overrun with something, typically insects or people.
  • The old log was crawling with ants. (Example of the verb form for context).

Variants and Related Words

• Crawl (verb): To move on hands and knees; to move very slowly; to be covered with creeping things.
  • The soldier had to crawl under the barbed wire.
• Creeper (noun): A plant that grows along the ground or a surface; (informal) a person who behaves in a sinister or obsequious way.
• Creep (noun/verb): A slow, gradual movement; to move slowly and carefully.

Synonyms

• Creeping: Moving slowly and close to the ground.
• Inching: Advancing very slowly by small degrees.
• Shuffling: Moving by dragging one's feet slowly along.

Related Phrasal Verbs (from the verb "crawl")

• Crawl back (to someone): To return to someone humbly, especially after a disagreement.
  • After losing his job, he had to crawl back to his old boss for a reference.
• Crawl out (of something): To emerge from something slowly or with difficulty.
  • He finally crawled out of his depression and started socializing again.

Related Idioms

• Make one's skin crawl: To cause a feeling of intense disgust or fear.
  • The sight of the spider made her skin crawl. (This idiom uses the verb form).
• Go at a snail's pace: To move or progress very slowly (similar in meaning to "at a crawling pace").
  • The bureaucratic process goes at a snail's pace.

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