crawls
|crawls|
🇺🇸
/krɔlz/
🇬🇧
/krɔːlz/
(crawl)
slow movement
Etymology
'crawl' originates from Old English, specifically from the verb 'crāwan'/'crēopan' (used to mean 'to creep or move slowly close to the ground').
'crawl' changed from Old English forms such as 'crēopan' and Middle English 'crawlen' and eventually became the modern English word 'crawl'.
Initially, it meant 'to creep or move close to the ground'; over time it has kept that core sense but expanded to include slow movement (e.g., traffic crawls) and figurative uses (e.g., to crawl back).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'crawl': informal events or activities involving visiting several places (as in 'pub crawls'); or types of crawling actions/strokes in swimming (less common).
She organizes pub crawls in town every summer, and the crawls are always busy.
Synonyms
Verb 1
moves on hands and knees or by dragging the body close to the ground.
The baby crawls across the living room every morning.
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Verb 2
progresses very slowly (often used of traffic or processes).
During the holiday, traffic crawls on the highway for hours.
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Verb 3
moves stealthily or close to the ground to avoid being seen.
Under the bushes, the soldier crawls toward the building.
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Last updated: 2025/11/27 10:07