verb

crouch

to crouch, to squat

The cat crouched in the bushes.

The cat crouched in the bushes.

He crouched down to look under the car.

He crouched down to look under the car.

(( )) to adopt a low, bent position The cat crouched in the bushes.

Synonyms: squat, hunker down; Antonyms: stand, stretch

From Old French 'crochir' meaning 'to become crooked', referring to the bent posture.

Think of a tiger crouching in the grass before it pounces. The 'ouch' sound in the word can remind you of the discomfort of holding the position.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.