Crab - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A crab is a marine crustacean with a hard shell, ten legs, and pincers. It walks sideways and lives in oceans, freshwater, or on land. Some species are edible.
Definition:
A crustacean with a broad carapace, stalked eyes, and five pairs of legs, the first of which are pincers.
Synonyms:
crustacean, shellfish, lobster, prawn
Part of Speech:
noun, verb
Antonyms:
bird, mammal
Common Collocations:
crab legs, crab cake, crab trap, crab meat
Derivatives:
crabbed, crabbing
Usage Tips:
Use "crab" as a noun for the animal or as a verb meaning to complain irritably.
Common Phrases:
catch a crab, crab mentality, crabs in a bucket
Etymology:
From Old English "crabba," related to Dutch "krab" and German "Krebs."
Examples:
- 1. The crab scuttled sideways along the beach.
- 2. She loves eating steamed crab with butter.
- 3. He always crabs about the weather.
- 4. We went crabbing at low tide.