squatting

squat  (skwt)

v. squat·ted, squat·ting, squats

v.intr.

1. To sit in a crouching position with knees bent and the buttocks on or near the heels.

2. To crouch down, as an animal does.

3. To settle on unoccupied land without legal claim.

4. To occupy a given piece of public land in order to acquire title to it.

v.tr.

1. To put (oneself) into a crouching posture.

2. To occupy as a squatter.

adj. squat·ter, squat·test

1. Short and thick; low and broad.

2. Crouched in a squatting position.

n.

1. The act of squatting.

2. A squatting or crouching posture.

3. Sports A lift or a weightlifting exercise in which one squats and stands while holding a weighted barbell supported by the back of the shoulders.

4. The place occupied by a squatter.

5. The lair of an animal such as a hare.

6. Slang A small or worthless amount; diddlysquat.

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[Middle English squatten, from Old French esquatir, to crush : es-, intensive pref. (from Latin ex-; see ex-) + quatir, to press flat (from Vulgar Latin *coctre, from Latin coctus, past participle of cgere, to compress : co-, co- + agere, to drive; see ag- in Indo-European roots).]

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squatter n.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	squatting - exercising by repeatedly assuming a crouching position with the knees bent; strengthens the leg muscles knee bend, squat leg exercise - exercise designed to strengthen the leg muscles
	2.	squatting - the act of assuming or maintaining a crouching position with the knees bent and the buttocks near the heels squat movement, motility, motion, move - a change of position that does not entail a change of location; "the reflex motion of his eyebrows revealed his surprise"; "movement is a sign of life"; "an impatient move of his hand"; "gastrointestinal motility"