lobster

noun

lob·​ster ˈläb-stər 

often attributive

1

: any of a family (Nephropidae and especially Homarus americanus) of large edible marine decapod crustaceans that have stalked eyes, a pair of large claws, and a long abdomen and that include species from coasts on both sides of the North Atlantic and from the Cape of Good Hope

2

: spiny lobster

lobsterlike

ˈläb-stər-ˌlīk 

adjective

Illustration of lobster

• lobster 1

Examples of lobster in a Sentence

I had lobster for dinner.

Recent Examples on the Web

These are related to crabs and lobsters, but spend their whole lives up in the water. —Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025

Loyal diners also made the Butter Krab Roll famous, a unique offering born when Mendín wanted to create a sushi-style lobster roll. —Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025

While Dang’s Pilsen restaurant focuses solely on Vietnamese cooking, Crying Tiger features Southeast Asian dishes more broadly, with shareable plates like sugarcane beef wrapped in betel leaves, clay pot lobster pad Thai, and crispy prawn toast on Chinese donuts. —Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025

The food menu, meanwhile, includes a range of date-night options, from steaks and lobster tails to chicken parmesan and wild king salmon. —Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English loppestre, from loppe spider

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing lobster

• hanging lobster claw
• lobster claw
• lobster pot
• lobster shift
• lobster thermidor
• lobster trap
• Norway lobster
• rock lobster
• spiny lobster

Rhymes for lobster

• mobster

Kids Definition

lobster

noun

lob·​ster ˈläb-stər 

: any of several large edible marine crustaceans with stalked eyes, a pair of large claws, and a long abdomen

also : spiny lobster