Stoop
WordNet
noun
(1) An inclination of the top half of the body forward and downward
(2) Small porch or set of steps at the front entrance of a house
(3) Basin for holy water
verb
(4) Carry oneself, often habitually, with head, shoulders, and upper back bent forward
"The old man was stooping but he could walk around without a cane"
(5) Sag, bend, bend over or down
"The rocks stooped down over the hiking path"
(6) Bend one's back forward from the waist on down
"He crouched down"
"She bowed before the Queen"
"The young man stooped to pick up the girl's purse"
(7) Descend swiftly, as if on prey
"The eagle stooped on the mice in the field"
WiktionaryText
Etymology 1
From . Cognate with English "step".
Noun
- A small porch, unroofed platform, or raised veranda leading to a main entrance.
- The workers made a stoop in front of the door.
Etymology 2
From . Compare .
Verb
- To bend one's self, or one's head, forward and downward.
- He stooped to tie his shoe-laces.
- To lower oneself; to demean or do something below one's status, standards, or morals.
- Can you believe that a salesman would stoop so low as to hide his customers' car keys until they agreed to the purchase?
- Of a bird of prey: to swoop down on its prey.
- 1882 [1875], Thomas Bewick, James Reiveley, William Harvey, The Parlour Menagerie, 4th ed., p. 63:
- Presently the bird stooped and seized a salmon, and a violent struggle ensued.
- 1882 [1875], Thomas Bewick, James Reiveley, William Harvey, The Parlour Menagerie, 4th ed., p. 63: