Squat
[skwɒt] or [skwɑt]
Definition
(noun.) the act of assuming or maintaining a crouching position with the knees bent and the buttocks near the heels.
(verb.) sit on one's heels; 'In some cultures, the women give birth while squatting'; 'The children hunkered down to protect themselves from the sandstorm'.
(verb.) occupy (a dwelling) illegally.
(verb.) be close to the earth, or be disproportionately wide; 'The building squatted low'.
(adj.) having a low center of gravity; built low to the ground .
Typist: Ursula--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) The angel fish (Squatina angelus).
(v. t.) To sit down upon the hams or heels; as, the savages squatted near the fire.
(v. t.) To sit close to the ground; to cower; to stoop, or lie close, to escape observation, as a partridge or rabbit.
(v. t.) To settle on another's land without title; also, to settle on common or public lands.
(v. t.) To bruise or make flat by a fall.
(a.) Sitting on the hams or heels; sitting close to the ground; cowering; crouching.
(a.) Short and thick, like the figure of an animal squatting.
(n.) The posture of one that sits on his heels or hams, or close to the ground.
(n.) A sudden or crushing fall.
(n.) A small vein of ore.
(n.) A mineral consisting of tin ore and spar.
Inputed by Elliot
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. n. [1]. Crouch, cower, sit close to the ground.[2]. [Modern.] Settle (without title to the land), plant one's self, take up one's quarters, pitch one's tent.
a. [1]. Crouching, cowering.[2]. Dumpy, STUMPY, stubby, short and thick.
Editor: Moll
Definition
v.i. to sit down upon the hams or heels: to cower as an animal: to settle on new land without title:—pr.p. squat′ting; pa.t. and pa.p. squat′ted.—adj. short and thick dumpy clumsy.—ns. Squatoc′racy the squatters of Australia collectively; Squat′ter a settler on new land without title: one who leases pasture-land from the government; Squat′tiness.—v.i. Squat′tle (Scot.) to squat down.—adj. Squat′ty very short and thick.
Inputed by Lennon
Examples
- Krempe was a little squat man, with a gruff voice and repulsive countenance; the teacher, therefore, did not prepossess me in favour of his doctrine. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
- With difficulty he limped up to the door, where a squat, dark, elderly man was smoking a black clay pipe. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- Hitherto they had been accustomed to squat in the open about the fire, and near their water supply. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- They were walking past the house of the old Patroon, with its squat walls and small square windows compactly grouped about a central chimney. Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- He looked up from where he was squatted by the table and saw Maria and she smiled at him. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- The females and young squatted in a thin line at the outer periphery of the circle, while just in front of them ranged the adult males. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- She set down her basket, squatted herself down, and resting her elbows on her knees said, O Lord! Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- The three of us squatted over him in the rain. Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell To Arms.
- Squatted on the doorstep, he was engaged in most carefully examining that which the man had brought from the house. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- Here, he said, then squatted down. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- Before the coming of bronze there is no evidence of stools or tables; the Neolithic people probably squatted on their clay floors. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- This he placed in the middle of the floor and, squatting down upon a stool in front of it, he threw back the lid. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- As the din of the drum rose to almost deafening volume Kerchak sprang into the open space between the squatting males and the drummers. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- Squatting beside D'Arnot he wrote for a minute on the smooth inner surface of the bark; then he handed it to the Frenchman. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- Then she said, squatting by him, How does it seem to thee now that it is really starting? Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- Then, squatting upon his haunches, he proceeded to eat, first motioning Clayton to join him. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- Probably some of the women would hunt good flints; they would fish them out of the chalk with sticks and bring them to the squatting-place. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- The young of the primitive squatting-place grew up under that fear. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
Inputed by Avis