carp

1
[ kahrp ]
See synonyms for carp on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object)
  1. to find fault or complain querulously or unreasonably; be niggling in criticizing; cavil: to carp at minor errors.

noun
  1. a peevish complaint.

Origin of carp

1
1200–50; Middle English carpen to speak, prate <Old Norse karpa to brag, wrangle

Other words for carp

Other words from carp

  • carper, noun

Other definitions for carp (2 of 4)

carp2
[ kahrp ]

noun,plural (especially collectively) carp, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) carps.
  1. a large freshwater cyprinid fish, Cyprinus carpio, native to Asia but widely introduced in tropical and temperate waters: an important food fish in many countries.

  2. any of various other fishes of the family Cyprinidae.

Origin of carp

2
1350–1400; Middle English carpe<Middle French <Middle Dutch or Middle Low German karpe; cognate with Old High German karpfo

Other definitions for -carp (3 of 4)

-carp

  1. a combining form occurring in compounds that denote a part of a fruit or fruiting body: endocarp.

Origin of -carp

3
<New Latin -carpium<Greek -karpion, derivative of karpós fruit

Other definitions for carp. (4 of 4)

carp.

abbreviation
  1. carpentry.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use carp in a sentence

  • A fountain tinkled and fat carp swam about in the fluted marble basin.

    The Adventures of Kathlyn | Harold MacGrath
  • If it has humour, deplore its lack of thoughtfulness; if it is grave, carp at its lack of gaiety.

  • It would be idle to carp at any means when the end is so thoroughly good.

    Mystic London: | Charles Maurice Davies

British Dictionary definitions for carp (1 of 3)

carp1

/ (kɑːp) /


verb
  1. (intr often foll by at) to complain or find fault; nag pettily

Origin of carp

1
C13: from Old Norse karpa to boast; related to Latin carpere to pluck

Derived forms of carp

  • carper, noun

British Dictionary definitions for carp (2 of 3)

carp2

/ (kɑːp) /


nounplural carp or carps
  1. a freshwater teleost food fish, Cyprinus carpio, having a body covered with cycloid scales, a naked head, one long dorsal fin, and two barbels on each side of the mouth: family Cyprinidae

  2. any other fish of the family Cyprinidae; a cyprinid

Origin of carp

2
C14: from Old French carpe, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German karpfo, Old Norse karfi

Other words from carp

  • Related adjectives: cyprinid, cyprinoid

British Dictionary definitions for -carp (3 of 3)

-carp

n combining form
  1. (in botany) fruit or a reproductive structure that develops into a particular part of the fruit: epicarp

Origin of -carp

3
from New Latin -carpium, from Greek -karpion, from karpos fruit

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012