to move in a prone position with the body resting on or close to the ground, as a worm or caterpillar, or on the hands and knees, as a young child.

(of plants or vines) to extend tendrils; creep.

to move or progress slowly or laboriously

The line of cars crawled behind the slow-moving truck. The work just crawled until we got the new machines.

to behave in a remorseful, abject, or cringing manner

Don't come crawling back to me asking for favors.

to be, or feel as if, overrun with crawling things

The hut crawled with lizards and insects.

Ceramics . (of a glaze) to spread unevenly over the surface of a piece.

(of paint) to raise or contract because of an imperfect bond with the underlying surface.

to visit or frequent a series of (esp. bars)

to crawl the neighborhood pubs.

act of crawling; a slow, crawling motion.

a slow pace or rate of progress

Traffic slowed to a crawl.

Swimming . a stroke in a prone position, characterized by alternate overarm movements combined with the flutter kick.

Television, Movies . titles that slowly move across a screen, providing information.

verb

clamber , creep , drag , drag oneself along , go on all fours , go on belly , grovel , hang back , inch , lag , loiter along , lollygag , move at snail’s pace , move on hands and knees , plod , poke , pull oneself along , scrabble , slide , slither , squirm , worm , wriggle , writhe , abase oneself , apple-polish , brownnose * , cringe , fawn , toady , truckle , snake , abound , bristle , flow , overflow , pullulate , swarm , pen , slow , swim , teem

noun

creep , snail\'s pace