crab

¹ American  

[krab] / kræb /

noun

1. 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.

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

3. Crab,

   1. Astronomy, Astrology. the zodiacal constellation or sign Cancer. cancer.

   2. Astronomy. the Crab Nebula.

4. any of various mechanical contrivances for hoisting or pulling.

5. Aeronautics. the maneuver of crabbing.

6. Informal. the crab louse. louse1

7. crabs,

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

   2. pediculosis.

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verb (used without object)

crabbed, crabbing

1. to catch or attempt to catch crabs.

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

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

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

verb (used with object)

crabbed, crabbing

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

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

idioms

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

crab ² American  

[krab] / kræb /

noun

1. a crab apple fruit or tree.

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crab ³ American  

[krab] / kræb /

noun

1. Informal. an ill-tempered or grouchy person.

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verb (used without object)

crabbed, crabbing

1. Informal. to find fault; complain.

2. (of hawks) to claw each other.

verb (used with object)

crabbed, crabbing

1. Informal. to find fault with.

2. to make ill-tempered or grouchy; embitter.

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

4. Slang. to spoil.

crab ¹ British  

/ kræb /

noun

1. 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 pincers See also fiddler crab soft-shell crab pea crab oyster crab

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

3. short for crab louse

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

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

6. wrestling See Boston crab

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

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verb

1. (intr) to hunt or catch crabs

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

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

4. (intr) to move sideways

crab ² British  

/ kræb /

verb

1. (intr) to find fault; grumble

2. (tr) to spoil (esp in the phrase crab someone's act )

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noun

1. an irritable person

2. to attract unwelcome attention

Crab ³ British  

/ kræb /

noun

1. the constellation Cancer, the fourth sign of the zodiac

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crab ⁴ British  

/ kræb /

noun

1. short for crab apple

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Other Word Forms

• crabber noun
• crablike adjective

Etymology

Origin of crab¹

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

Origin of crab²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English crabbe; perhaps special use of crab ¹

Origin of crab³

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

Example Sentences

Christopher caught a crab and they ate it raw, slicing the shell with the glamry blade, the flesh sweet and cool from the sea.

From Literature

They also found many arthropods -- a family that includes modern-day crabs and insects -- including spiny, stalk-eyed creatures called radiodonts which were the apex predator of the time.

From Barron's

There’s a restaurant called the Seafarer, advertising its “famous” crab sandwich.

From Literature

And there's a deep-sea hermit crab, living not inside a shell, but a sea star the team can't immediately identify.

From Barron's

I usually get a bunch of salads and the crab and fennel soup.

From Los Angeles Times