crustacean

[kruh-stey-shuhn]

noun

1. any chiefly aquatic arthropod of the class Crustacea, typically having the body covered with a hard shell or crust, including the lobsters, shrimps, crabs, barnacles, and wood lice.

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the crustaceans.

crustacean

/ krʌˈsteɪʃən /

noun

1. any arthropod of the mainly aquatic class Crustacea, typically having a carapace hardened with lime and including the lobsters, crabs, shrimps, woodlice, barnacles, copepods, and water fleas

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Crustacea

crustacean

1. Any of various widespread arthropods of the class Crustacea that live mostly in water and have a hard shell, a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Crustaceans include crabs, lobsters, shrimp, barnacles, and copepods.

crustacean

1. A class of arthropods with shells.

Crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and crayfish are crustaceans.

Word History and Origins

Origin of crustacean¹

1825–35; < New Latin Crustace ( a ) (neuter plural) hard-shelled ones ( crust, -acea ) + -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of crustacean¹

C19: from New Latin crūstāceus hard-shelled, from Latin crūsta shell, _crust

Example Sentences

These included a variety of worms, mollusks, and crustaceans.

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"Because algae are the primary food source for small animals such as planktonic crustaceans, which in turn are eaten by small fish, more algae can end up affecting the entire food chain," she adds.

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Over millions of years, nature has reinvented the crab at least five separate times across various lineages of crustaceans in a bid to improve protection and mobility.

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It is hoped species such as ross worms, anemones, oysters and mussels will live on the reef cubes and that fish and crustaceans will also come over time.

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Thanks to his boss’ overreach, now he’s crustacean food.

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Related Words

• shellfish