/'grɒvl; `ˇrɑvl/
v (-ll-; US -l-) (derog 贬)
1 [I, Ipr] ~ (to/before sb) lie or crawl with the face downwards in a show of humility or fear 趴伏, 匍匐（作谦卑或恐惧状）
*Those who wished a favour of the emperor had to grovel on hands and knees before him. 凡希望受到皇帝恩宠的人都要拜倒在他面前.
2 (fig 比喻) [I, Ipr] ~ (to sb) (for sth) behave with a show of humility or shame 带着谦卑或羞愧的样子行事
*You will just have to grovel to the bank manager for a loan. 你只得低声下气地向银行经理借贷.
3 (phr v) grovel about/around move about on one's hands and knees; crawl about 四处爬行; 爬来爬去
*grovelling around under the table looking for a pin 在桌子下爬来爬去寻找一根针.

v past tense and past participlegrovelledpresent participlegrovellingBrEpast tense and past participlegroveledpresent participlegrovelingAmE
[Date: 1800-1900; Origin: groveling 'lying face downward' (16-19 centuries), from groof 'on the face' (14-19 centuries), from Old Norse grufu]
[I]
to praise someone a lot or behave with a lot of respect towards them because you think that they are important and will be able to help you in some way - used to show disapproval
= crawlgrovel to
　I had to really grovel to the bank manager to get a loan.
[I always + adverb/preposition]
to move along the ground on your hands and knees
　I saw him grovelling in the road for his hat.
>grovellingadj
　a grovelling apology