noun · verb · 15 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
General-American:/kɹɑt͡ʃ/
Received-Pronunciation:/kɹɒt͡ʃ/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɒtʃ
CMU ARPABET:K R AA1 CH
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The ventral area (very bottom) of the human body between where the legs fork from the torso, in the area of the genitals and anus.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Every mile they rode their crotches felt worse saddlepain.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Either the male or female genitalia.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: euphemistic, slang
Examples
He cringed at being kicked in the crotch.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The area where something forks or branches: where a ramification takes place.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
There is a child sitting in a crotch of that tree.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
In the three-ball carom game, a small space at each corner of the table.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
The open counter (negative space) formed by two downward strokes that meet at an internal acute angle, potentially above a vertex, as in the letters "V" and "Y".
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: media, publishing, typography
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To provide with a crotch; to give the form of a crotch to.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
to crotch the ends of ropes in splicing or tying knots
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To notch (a log) on opposite sides to provide a grip for the dogs that will haul it.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, Western, historical, transitive
Qualifier: timber industry
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
To shoplift or smuggle by hiding between one's thighs or in one's underwear.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
verb
Meaning 9
To hit in the crotch (genital region).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
verb
Meaning 10
To secure (the boom) to the boom crotch (a forked pole).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: nautical, sailing, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
verb
Meaning 11
To hang (a rope) over a crotch in a tree so that the ends hang down from opposite sides.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Qualifier: tree work
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
verb
Meaning 12
To remove overgrown wool from around the eyes of.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
noun
Meaning 13
external sex organ
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Narrower terms: pudendum, female genitalia, female genitals, female genital organ, fanny, male genitalia, male genitals, male genital organ, family jewels
14
noun
Meaning 14
the angle formed by the inner sides of the legs where they join the human trunk
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: fork
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: angle
15
noun
Meaning 15
the region of the angle formed by the junction of two branches
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
they took the south fork
he climbed into the crotch of a tree
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: fork
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: branch, leg, ramification
History
Etymology
Of disputed origin; two possibilities seem likely: * From Middle English croche, variant of crucche (“crutch”); compare crook. * From Middle English croche, variant of crouche (“cross, crozier”).
Across languages
Translations
97 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
чатал
(čatal)
— area where something forks
Catalan:
forcadura
— area where something forks
Catalan:
enforcadura
— area where something forks
Chinese Mandarin:
岔
(chà)
— area where something forks
Chinese Mandarin:
丫叉
(yāchà)
— area where something forks
Chinese Mandarin:
分叉
(fēnchā)
— area where something forks
Danish:
forgrening
— area where something forks
Danish:
vejgaffel
— area where something forks
Dutch:
aftakking
— area where something forks
Dutch:
vork
— area where something forks
Esperanto:
akselo
— area where something forks
Estonian:
harukoht
— area where something forks
Estonian:
haru
— area where something forks
Finnish:
haara
— area where something forks
French:
fourche
— area where something forks
Galician:
galla
— area where something forks
Galician:
galladura
— area where something forks
Galician:
forcadura
— area where something forks
Galician:
cibamento
— area where something forks
German:
Gabelung
— area where something forks
German:
Verzweigung
— area where something forks
German:
Astgabel
— area where something forks
Greek:
διχάλα
(dichála)
— area where something forks
Irish:
gabhal
— area where something forks
Italian:
biforcazione
— area where something forks
Italian:
diramazione
— area where something forks
Japanese:
叉
(mata)
— area where something forks
Latin:
bifurcum
— area where something forks
Norwegian:
forgrening
— area where something forks
Polish:
rozwidlenie
— area where something forks
Polish:
rozstaj
— area where something forks
Portuguese:
forquilha
— area where something forks
Portuguese:
bifurcação
— area where something forks
Portuguese:
ramificação
— area where something forks
Portuguese:
Y
— area where something forks
Russian:
разви́лка
(razvílka)
— area where something forks
Russian:
разветвле́ние
(razvetvlénije)
— area where something forks
Russian:
ви́лка
(vílka)
— area where something forks
Russian:
разви́лина
(razvílina)
— area where something forks
Scottish Gaelic:
gobhal
— area where something forks
Spanish:
horqueta
— area where something forks
Swedish:
klyka
— area where something forks
Swedish:
förgrening
— area where something forks
Ukrainian:
відгалу́ження
(vidhalúžennja)
— area where something forks
Ukrainian:
розгалу́ження
(rozhalúžennja)
— area where something forks
Ukrainian:
роздорі́жжя
(rozdorížžja)
— area where something forks
Welsh:
ffwrch
— area where something forks
Bulgarian:
чатал
(čatal)
— area of a person’s body
Catalan:
engonal
— area of a person’s body
Catalan:
entrecuix
— area of a person’s body
Czech:
rozkrok
— area of a person’s body
Danish:
skridt
— area of a person’s body
Dutch:
kruis
— area of a person’s body
Esperanto:
seksorgano
— area of a person’s body
Estonian:
hargivahe
— area of a person’s body
Estonian:
jalgevahe
— area of a person’s body
Estonian:
kube
— area of a person’s body
Estonian:
kubemepiirkond
— area of a person’s body
Finnish:
haaraväli
— area of a person’s body
French:
entrejambe
— area of a person’s body
Galician:
ventrecha
— area of a person’s body
German:
Schritt
— area of a person’s body
German:
Leistengegend
— area of a person’s body
German:
Zwickel
— area of a person’s body
Greek:
καβάλος
(kaválos)
— area of a person’s body
Ancient Greek:
πλιχάς
(plikhás)
— area of a person’s body
Hebrew:
מפשעה
(mifsa'á)
— area of a person’s body
Icelandic:
klof
— area of a person’s body
Indonesian:
kelangkang
— area of a person’s body
Irish:
gabhal
— area of a person’s body
Italian:
cavallo
— area of a person’s body
Japanese:
股
(mata)
— area of a person’s body
Japanese:
俣
(mata)
— area of a person’s body
Japanese:
股間
(kokan)
— area of a person’s body
Latin:
inguen
— area of a person’s body
Macedonian:
меѓуножје
(meǵunožje)
— area of a person’s body
Malay:
kelangkang
— area of a person’s body
Māori:
tapa o te kūhā
— area of a person’s body
Māori:
tapatapa
— area of a person’s body
Classical Nahuatl:
maxactli
— area of a person’s body
Norwegian:
skritt
— area of a person’s body
Norwegian:
skrev
— area of a person’s body
Polish:
krocze
— area of a person’s body
Portuguese:
virilha
— area of a person’s body
Portuguese:
entreperna
— area of a person’s body
Russian:
проме́жность
(proméžnostʹ)
— area of a person’s body
Russian:
пах
(pax)
— area of a person’s body
Scottish Gaelic:
gobhal
— area of a person’s body
Slovak:
rozkrok
— area of a person’s body
Spanish:
entrepierna
— area of a person’s body
Swedish:
skrev
— area of a person’s body
Swedish:
gren
— area of a person’s body
Ottoman Turkish:
فرج
(ferc)
— area of a person’s body
Ukrainian:
пахви́на
(paxvýna)
— area of a person’s body
