crouch

UK: /ˈkraʊtʃ/ US: /kraʊtʃ/ ,(krouch)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

crouch /kraʊtʃ/   v. [no object]

1. to stoop low with the knees bent:
   He crouched down and began to whisper in his little boy's ear.
2. Animal Behavior to bend close to the ground preparing to spring, as a cat does.

n. [countable]

3. the act of crouching:
   The boxer went into a crouch.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

crouch  (krouch), v.i. 

1. to stoop or bend low.
2. Animal Behavior to bend close to the ground, as an animal preparing to spring or shrinking with fear.
3. to bow or stoop servilely;
   cringe.

v.t. 

4. to bend low.

n. 

5. the act of crouching.

• Middle English crouchen, perh. blend of, blended couchen to lie down (see couch) and croken to crook¹ 1175–1225

crouch′er, n. 
crouch′ing•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

crouch / kraʊtʃ/ verb

1. (intransitive) to bend low with the limbs pulled up close together, esp (of an animal) in readiness to pounce
2. (intransitive) to cringe, as in humility or fear

noun

1. the act of stooping or bending

Etymology: 14th Century: perhaps from Old French crochir to become bent like a hook, from croche hook