crawl

verb

• 1(of a person) move forward on the hands and knees or by dragging the body close to the ground:they crawled out from under the table
• (of an insect or small animal) move slowly along a surface:the tiny spider was crawling up Nicky’s arm
• (of a vehicle) move at an unusually slow pace:the traffic was crawling along
• swim using the crawl.
• informal behave obsequiously or ingratiatingly in the hope of gaining someone’s favor:don’t come crawling back to me later when you realize your mistake
• technical (of paint or other liquid) move after application to form an uneven layer over the surface below:glazes can crawl away from a crack in the piece

• 2 (be crawling with) be covered or crowded with insects or people, to an extent that is disgusting or objectionable:the place was crawling with soldiers

noun

• 1an act of moving on one’s hands and knees or dragging one’s body along the ground:they began the crawl back to their own lines
• a slow rate of movement, typically that of a vehicle:he reduced his speed to a crawl

• 2a swimming stroke involving alternate overarm movements and rapid kicks of the legs.

• 3a strip or band running across the bottom of a computer or television screen, within which news headlines, public service announcements, and advertisements are continuously scrolled.