lobster

[lob-ster]

noun

plural

lobster ,

plural

lobsters .

1. any of various large, edible, marine, usually dull-green, stalk-eyed decapod crustaceans of the family Homaridae, especially of the genus Homarus, having large, asymmetrical pincers on the first pair of legs, one used for crushing and the other for cutting and tearing: the shell turns bright red when cooked.

2. spiny lobster.

3. any of various similar crustaceans, as certain crayfishes.

4. the edible meat of these animals.

lobster

/ ˈlɒbstə /

noun

1. any of several large marine decapod crustaceans of the genus Homarus, esp H. vulgaris, occurring on rocky shores and having the first pair of limbs modified as large pincers

2. any of several similar crustaceans, esp the spiny lobster

3. the flesh of any of these crustaceans, eaten as a delicacy

Word History and Origins

Origin of lobster¹

before 1000; Middle English lopster, Old English loppestre literally, spidery creature ( loppe spider ( lob ¹ ) + -stre -ster ); lop ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of lobster¹

Old English loppestre, from loppe spider

Example Sentences

That doesn’t mean I wasn’t counting the minutes until I could order my favorite hotel lobster roll as the train traveled along the water at sunset on approach to Emeryville, Calif., our last stop.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Jackson tracked down the former chef of New York’s Plaza Hotel, asking for his corned-beef hash recipe, which included lobster.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Some American Airlines flights even featured a live piano lounge, and professional chefs aboard Pan American World Airways served lobster and caviar on fine china.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Towers of onion rings stacked high, bone-in rib-eyes, bubbling pots of lobster mac and cheese, fries and meats drowning in au poivre.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A common claim is that food stamps are spent on luxury foods like lobster.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clam 
• conch 
• crawfish 
• crustacean 
• mollusk 
• mussel 
• oyster 
• prawn 
• scallop 
• shrimp 
• snail