crawl / krôl/ • v. [intr.] 1. (of a person) move forward on the hands and knees or by dragging the body close to the ground. ∎  (of an insect or small animal) move slowly along a surface. ∎  (of a vehicle) move at an unusually slow pace. ∎  swim using the crawl. ∎  inf. behave obsequiously or ingratiatingly in the hope of gaining someone's favor: don't come crawling back to me 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.• n. [in sing.] 1. an act of moving on one's hands and knees or dragging one's body along the ground. ∎  a slow rate of movement, typically that of a vehicle: he reduced his speed to a crawl.2. a swimming stroke involving alternate overarm movements and rapid kicks of the legs.PHRASES: make someone's skin crawlsee skin.DERIVATIVES: crawl·ing·ly adv.crawl·y adj.

crawl XIV. ME. crawle, superseding earlier creule, croule, of unkn. orig.