squat
Americanverb (used without object)
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to sit in a low or crouching position with the legs drawn up closely beneath or in front of the body; sit on one's haunches or heels.
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to crouch down or cower, as an animal.
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to settle on or occupy property, especially otherwise unoccupied property, without any title, right, or payment of rent.
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to settle on public land under government regulation, in order to acquire title.
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Nautical. (of a vessel, especially a power vessel) to draw more water astern when in motion forward than when at rest.
verb (used with object)
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to cause to squat.
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to occupy (property) as a squatter.
adjective
noun
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the act or fact of squatting.
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a squatting position or posture.
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a weightlifting exercise in which a person squats and then returns to an erect position while holding a barbell at the back of the shoulders.
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Nautical. the tendency of a vessel to draw more water astern when in motion than when stationary.
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Slang. diddly-squat.
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a place occupied by squatters.
verb
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to rest in a crouching position with the knees bent and the weight on the feet
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to crouch down, esp in order to hide
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law (tr) to occupy land or property to which the occupant has no legal title
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weightlifting to crouch down to one's knees and rise to a standing position while holding (a specified weight) behind one's neck
adjective
noun
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a squatting position
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weightlifting an exercise in which a person crouches down and rises up repeatedly while holding a barbell at shoulder height
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a house occupied by squatters
Other Word Forms
- squatly adverb
- squatness noun
Etymology
Origin of squat
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (verb) squatten, from Old French esquater, esquatir, equivalent to es- + quatir, from unattested Vulgar Latin coactīre “to compress,” equivalent to Latin coāct(us), past participle of cōgere “to compress” ( co- + ag(ere) “to drive” + -tus past participle suffix) + -īre infinitive suffix; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the verb; ex- 1, co-
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As labor continued, she got into a squatting position; she let out some squeals and her tail flapped.
From Los Angeles Times
The little fellow just squatted there on the ground, all humped up, with his eyes closed, and let the other monkeys lick away.
From Literature
People who know squat about American labor unions still know who Jimmy Hoffa is.
From Los Angeles Times
Nim squatted at the edge, out of the way of the wind and stink.
From Literature
On Camino Escalante, Guthrie’s squat, orange brick house is set back from the road behind a lawn planted with prickly pear, agave, cholla and yucca.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
