crustacean

American  

[kruh-stey-shuhn] / krʌˈsteɪ ʃən /

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.

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adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the crustaceans.

crustacean British  

/ 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

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adjective

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

crustacean Scientific  

/ krŭ-stā′shən /

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.

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crustacean Cultural  

1. A class of arthropods with shells.

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Discover More

Crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and crayfish are crustaceans.

Etymology

Origin of crustacean

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

Example Sentences

It’s there that the baleen filter feeders spend the summer gorging on tiny crustaceans from the muddy bottom of the Bering, Chuckchi and Beaufort seas, creating shallow pits or potholes in the process.

From Los Angeles Times

In turn, sea urchins are an important food source for many marine mammals, fish, crustaceans, and sea stars.

From Science Daily

The Centenary Seafood bar cracks the country’s finest crustaceans, including dressed Devon crab and the iconic Wimbledon strawberries and cream dessert, alongside a selection of local British cheeses.

From Salon

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

From Science Daily

"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.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• shellfish