shrimp

American  

[shrimp] / ʃrɪmp /

noun

plural

shrimps,

plural

shrimp

1. any of several small, long-tailed, chiefly marine crustaceans of the decapod suborder Natania, certain species of which are used as food.

2. Informal. a diminutive or insignificant person.

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verb (used without object)

1. to catch or try to catch shrimps.

adjective

1. (of food) made with or containing shrimp.

   shrimp salad.

2. of or relating to shrimp or their catching, processing, and marketing.

   a shrimp boat.

shrimp British  

/ ʃrɪmp /

noun

1. any of various chiefly marine decapod crustaceans of the genus Crangon and related genera, having a slender flattened body with a long tail and a single pair of pincers

2. any of various similar but unrelated crustaceans, such as the opossum shrimp and mantis shrimp

3. Also called: freshwater shrimp.  any of various freshwater shrimplike amphipod crustaceans of the genus Gammarus, esp G. pulex

4. Also called: sand shrimp.  any of various shrimplike amphipod crustaceans of the genus Gammarus, esp G. locusta See also opossum shrimp

5. informal a diminutive person, esp a child

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verb

1. (intr) to fish for shrimps

Other Word Forms

• shrimper noun
• shrimplike adjective

Etymology

Origin of shrimp

1300–50; Middle English shrimpe crustacean, puny person; akin to Middle High German schrimpfen to contract, Old English scrimman to shrink

Example Sentences

Under the glow of fluorescent lights at Seafood City market in North Hills, packages of pre-made adobo, salted shrimp fry and and dried anchovies glisten in meat coolers.

From Los Angeles Times

Since then, China has expanded its economic influence over Honduras, but has drawn criticism for flooding the country with cheap goods, employing Chinese workers on infrastructure projects and failing to buy enough shrimp.

From Barron's

A little retro, fancy but never fussy, shrimp cocktail is festive food guests go ga-ga for.

From The Wall Street Journal

If you’re expecting a larger crowd, pile ice on large platters, spread your shrimp out on top and let everyone peel their own.

From The Wall Street Journal

My family has added things like lobster mac and cheese, crab cakes, and shrimp cocktail to our menu over the years, none of which are exactly “Italian.”

From Salon

Related Words

• cramped
• limited
• meager
• microscopic
• miniature
• minuscule
• modest
• narrow
• paltry
• poor
• short
• slight
• small-scale
• young