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View synonyms for carp

carp

1

[ kahrp ]

verb (used without object)

  1. to find fault or complain querulously or unreasonably; be niggling in criticizing; cavil:

    to carp at minor errors.

    Synonyms: censure, condemn, deprecate, criticize



noun

  1. a peevish complaint.

carp

2

[ 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.

-carp

3
  1. a combining form occurring in compounds that denote a part of a fruit or fruiting body:

    endocarp.

carp.

4

abbreviation for

  1. carpentry.

carp

1

/ kɑːp /

verb

  1. introften foll byat to complain or find fault; nag pettily
“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


-carp

2

combining form

  1. (in botany) fruit or a reproductive structure that develops into a particular part of the fruit

    epicarp

“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

carp

3

/ kɑːp /

noun

  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
“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈcarper, noun
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Other Words From

  • carper noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of carp1

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

Origin of carp2

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

Origin of carp3

< New Latin -carpium < Greek -karpion, derivative of karpós fruit
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Word History and Origins

Origin of carp1

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

Origin of carp2

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

Origin of carp3

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

Bringing in more revenue than most African governments is hardly reason to carp.

Made with roe from mullet, carp, cod, lobsters, or even crab, taramasalata—salty, creamy, bright, with little pops!

Instead, they gave Americans tax cuts, defense hikes, and middle class spending, leaving Democrats to carp about deficits.

I'm not enamored of a straight meat diet as a rule, but that evening I was in no mood to carp at anything half-way eatable.

He, for one, did not carp at Aunt Rachel's declaration that they were intended to spend time and eternity together.

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

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.

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Related Words

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Words That Use -carp

What does -carp mean?

The combining form -carp is used like a suffix to refer to fruit or a fruiting body. A fruiting body is an organ that produces spores, which develops into a part of a fruit. It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology and botany.

The combining form -carp ultimately comes from the Greek karpós, meaning “fruit.” The combining form -carpic is used to form adjectives of words ending in -carp. Equivalent to -carpic is -carpous, meaning “fruited.”


Want to know more? Read our Words That Use -carpic and -carpous articles.

Examples of -carp

An example of a word from biology that features -carp is monocarp, meaning “a plant that dies after having once borne fruit.”

The first part of the word, mono, might look familiar. It means “single” or “one.” The second part, –carp, means “fruit,” as we now know. Monocarp literally translates to “one fruit.”

What are some words that use the combining form –carp?

What are some other forms that -carp may be commonly confused with?

You probably associate carp with a fish more than a fruit—or with a whole lot of complaining! We can’t quibble with those associations, but neither of these senses of carp are related to the combining form -carp.

Break it down!

The combining form exo- means “outside,” “outer,” or “external.” With this in mind, what is the exocarp of an orange?

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