crustacea

crus·ta·cea

noun pl \ˌkrəs-ˈtā-sh(ē-)ə\

Definition of CRUSTACEA

1

capitalized : a large class of mostly aquatic arthropods that have a chitinous or calcareous and chitinous exoskeleton, a pair of often much modified appendages on each segment, and two pairs of antennae and that include the lobsters, shrimps, crabs, wood lice, water fleas, and barnacles

2

: arthropods of the class Crustacea

—crus·ta·cean \-shən\ adjective or noun