carp

¹carp

intransitive verb \ˈkärp\

Definition of CARP

: to find fault or complain querulously

— carp·er noun

Examples of CARP

1. He's always carping about his boss.
2. He's tired of always being carped at by his critics.

Origin of CARP

Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Icelandic karpa to dispute

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CARP

Synonyms

beef, bellyache, bitch, bleat, complain, caterwaul, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grizzle, grouch, grouse, growl, grumble, grump, holler, inveigh, keen, kick, kvetch, maunder [chiefly British], moan, murmur, mutter, nag, repine, scream, squawk, squeal, wail, whimper, whine, whinge [British], yammer, yawp (or yaup), yowl

Antonyms

crow, delight, rejoice

Related Words

object (to), protest, quarrel (with); cavil, quibble; fret, stew, worry; blubber, cry, sob; bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament

Near Antonyms

accept, bear, countenance, endure, take, tolerate; applaud, cheer, commend

Rhymes with CARP

Arp, harp, scarp, sharp, tarp, Tharp

²carp

noun

Definition of CARP

: complaint

First Known Use of CARP

1904

³carp

noun

plural carp or carps

Definition of CARP

1

: a large variable Asian soft-finned freshwater cyprinid fish (Cyprinus carpio) of sluggish waters that is often raised for food and has been widely introduced into United States waters; also : any of various related cyprinid fishes (as the grass carp)

2

: a fish (as the European sea bream) resembling a carp

Origin of CARP

Middle English carpe, from Middle French, from Late Latin carpa, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German karpfo carp

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Fishes Terms

char, chum, ichthyology, smelt, tetra, turbot

carp

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Hardy, greenish brown fish (Cyprinus carpio, family Cyprinidae) native to Asia but introduced into Europe, North America, and elsewhere. Large-scaled, with two barbels (fleshy, whiskerlike feelers) on each side of its upper jaw, the carp lives alone or in small schools in quiet, weedy, mud-bottomed ponds, lakes, and rivers. An omnivore, it often stirs up sediment while rooting about for food, adversely affecting many plants and animals. Carp grow to an average length of about 14 in. (35 cm); some grow to 40 in. (100 cm) and 49 lbs (22 kg). In captivity they may live more than 40 years.