crab

[ krab ]

/ kræb /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: crab / crabbed / crabs on Thesaurus.com

noun

any decapod crustacean of the suborder Brachyura, having the eyes on short stalks and a short, broad, more or less flattened body, the abdomen being small and folded under the thorax.

any of various other crustaceans, as the hermit crab, or other animals, as the horseshoe crab, resembling the true crabs.

Crab,

Astronomy, Astrology. the zodiacal constellation or sign Cancer.
Astronomy. the Crab Nebula.

any of various mechanical contrivances for hoisting or pulling.

Aeronautics. the maneuver of crabbing.

Informal. the crab louse.See under louse (def. 1).

crabs,

(used with a singular verb) a losing throw, as two aces, in the game of hazard.
pediculosis.

verb (used without object), crabbed, crab·bing.

to catch or attempt to catch crabs.

to move sideways, diagonally, or obliquely, especially with short, abrupt bursts of speed; scuttle.

Aeronautics. (of an aircraft) to head partly into the wind to compensate for drift.

Nautical. to drift or advance with some movement sideways, especially when under tow.

verb (used with object), crabbed, crab·bing.

to move (a vehicle or object) sideways, diagonally, or obliquely, especially with short, abrupt movements.

Aeronautics. to head (an aircraft) partly into the wind to compensate for drift.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"

"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about crab

catch a crab, to make a faulty stroke in rowing, so that the oar strikes the water forcibly on the backstroke.

Origin of crab

First recorded before 1000; Middle English crabbe, Old English crabba; cognate with Dutch krab, Old Norse krabbi; akin to German Krebs

OTHER WORDS FROM crab

crablike, adjective

Words nearby crab

CQ, CQB, CQSW, Cr, craal, crab, crab apple, Crabb, Crabbe, crabbed, crabber

Other definitions for crab (2 of 3)

crab²

[ krab ]

/ kræb /

noun

a crab apple fruit or tree.

Origin of crab

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English crabbe; perhaps special use of crab¹

Other definitions for crab (3 of 3)

crab³

[ krab ]

/ kræb /

noun

Informal. an ill-tempered or grouchy person.

verb (used without object), crabbed, crab·bing.

Informal. to find fault; complain.

(of hawks) to claw each other.

verb (used with object), crabbed, crab·bing.

Informal. to find fault with.

to make ill-tempered or grouchy; embitter.

(of a hawk) to claw (another hawk).

Slang. to spoil.

Origin of crab

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; back formation from crabbed

OTHER WORDS FROM crab

crabber, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use crab in a sentence

However, he lets shellfish, such as crab or shrimp, sit on the kitchen counter for too long, in my opinion.
Hints From Heloise: Housewarming gift gets recipient fired up|Heloise Heloise|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
She can watch the sunset on the Chesapeake and catch crabs off her dock.
Sea-level rise is ‘the hidden threat’ for Anne Arundel waterfront homes|Selene San Felice|January 26, 2021|Washington Post
Despite the name, they are not real crabs, so they’re not crustaceans.
Explainer: Insects, arachnids and other arthropods|Curtis Segarra|January 19, 2021|Science News For Students
You can’t throw a net without snaring a crab cake in Washington.
We lost Johnny’s Half Shell to the pandemic. After 20 years, it deserves a farewell toast.|Tom Sietsema|January 15, 2021|Washington Post

Their eight powerful limbs can pluck crusty crabs from hiding spots.
Touching allows octopuses to pre-taste their food|Jonathan Lambert|January 4, 2021|Science News For Students
Someone called him a hermit crab lurking in the halls of the United Nations.
The Man Who Invented the Word ‘Genocide’|Nina Strochlic|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There were jokes about Winston shoplifting crab legs earlier this year.
Jameis Winston's Inevitable #epicfail|Gideon Resnick|August 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Wrap cooked crab legs in bacon, and bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.
Epic Meal Empire’s Meat Monstrosities: From the Bacon Spider to the Cinnabattleship|Harley Morenstein|July 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When it comes to Dungeness crab, plain is perfect, but culinary adventurers should also try a house-made Dungeness crab burger.
Become a Fried Seafood Believer at South Beach Market|Jane & Michael Stern|April 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Salmon burgers and shrimp burgers are available, too, but they are no match for the crab.
Become a Fried Seafood Believer at South Beach Market|Jane & Michael Stern|April 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Leo stood in front of the Crab, and the half darkness allowed him a glimpse of that vast blue-black back, and the motionless eyes.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
In the middle of his singing he felt the cold touch of the Crab's claw on the apple of his throat.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
“Follow me, Mr Larks,” he said, turning and descending the ladder sailor-fashion—which means crab-wise.
The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands|R.M. Ballantyne
She would miss the car and raise a hullabaloo, and maybe crab the whole thing in the start.
Cabin Fever|B. M. Bower
The crab begins by tearing the husk, fiber by fiber, and always from that end under which the three eye-holes are situated.
The Wonder Book of Knowledge|Various

British Dictionary definitions for crab (1 of 4)

crab¹

/ (kræb) /

noun

any chiefly marine decapod crustacean of the genus Cancer and related genera (section Brachyura), having a broad flattened carapace covering the cephalothorax, beneath which is folded the abdomen. The first pair of limbs are modified as pincersSee also fiddler crab, soft-shell crab, pea crab, oyster crab Related adjective: cancroid

any of various similar or related arthropods, such as the hermit crab and horseshoe crab

short for crab louse

a manoeuvre in which an aircraft flies slightly into the crosswind to compensate for drift

a mechanical lifting device, esp the travelling hoist of a gantry crane

wrestling See Boston crab

catch a crab rowing to make a stroke in which the oar either misses the water or digs too deeply, causing the rower to fall backwards

verb crabs, crabbing or crabbed

(intr) to hunt or catch crabs

(tr) to fly (an aircraft) slightly into a crosswind to compensate for drift

(intr) nautical to move forwards with a slight sideways motion, as to overcome an offsetting current

(intr) to move sideways

Word Origin for crab

Old English crabba; related to Old Norse krabbi, Old High German krebiz crab, Dutch krabben to scratch

British Dictionary definitions for crab (2 of 4)

crab²

/ (kræb) informal /

verb crabs, crabbing or crabbed

(intr) to find fault; grumble

(tr) mainly US to spoil (esp in the phrase crab someone's act)

noun

an irritable person

draw the crabs Australian to attract unwelcome attention

Word Origin for crab

C16: probably back formation from crabbed

British Dictionary definitions for crab (3 of 4)

crab³

/ (kræb) /

noun

short for crab apple

Word Origin for crab

C15: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish skrabbe crab apple

British Dictionary definitions for crab (4 of 4)

Crab

/ (kræb) /

noun

the Crab the constellation Cancer, the fourth sign of the zodiac

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

crab

Idioms about crab

Origin of crab

OTHER WORDS FROM crab

Words nearby crab

Other definitions for crab (2 of 3)

Origin of crab

Other definitions for crab (3 of 3)

Origin of crab

OTHER WORDS FROM crab

Words related to crab

How to use crab in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for crab (1 of 4)

Word Origin for crab

British Dictionary definitions for crab (2 of 4)

Word Origin for crab

British Dictionary definitions for crab (3 of 4)

Word Origin for crab

British Dictionary definitions for crab (4 of 4)