crawl

verb

• 1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] move forward on the hands and knees or by dragging the body close to the ground:they crawled 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:I turned without stopping and crawled back to the deep end
• 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 [no object] informal behave obsequiously or ingratiatingly in the hope of gaining someone’s favour:a reporter’s job can involve crawling to objectionable people

• 3 (be crawling with) be covered or crowded with (insects or people), to an extent that is objectionable:the floor was dirty and crawling with bugs

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: she could do the crawl and so many other strokes