What does "crawling" mean?

1. (moving on hands and knees) the way a baby or animal moves along the ground using their hands and knees. 2. (slow movement) moving very slowly, like cars in heavy traffic.

crawling

US //ˈkɹɔɫɪŋ// UK //kɹˈɔːlɪŋ// crawl·ing

1 moving on hands and knees (n.)
B1 Intermediate

the way a baby or animal moves along the ground using their hands and knees.

the physical act of locomotion on hands and knees, typical of human infants or certain animals.

Example

The baby is finally crawling across the living room floor to reach her toys.

Example

Crawling represents a significant developmental milestone for infants, as it requires the coordination of limbs and the strengthening of core muscles.
- creeping
- walking
- running
2 slow movement (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

moving very slowly, like cars in heavy traffic.

a slow, steady, or laborious rate of progress, often used to describe traffic or mechanical movement.

Example

The traffic was crawling along the motorway because of the roadworks.

Example

The morning commute was reduced to a slow crawling pace after a minor collision blocked two lanes of the main bridge.
- creeping
- inching
- speeding
- racing