carp

verb

\ ˈkärp

How to pronounce carp (audio)

\

carped; carping; carps

Definition of carp

(Entry 1 of 5)

intransitive verb

: to find fault or complain querulously

carp

noun (1)

Definition of carp (Entry 2 of 5)

: complaint

carp

noun (2)

plural carp or carps

Definition of carp (Entry 3 of 5)

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 U.S. waters also : any of various related cyprinid fishes (such as the grass carp)

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

carp-

combining form

variants: or carpo-

Definition of carp- (Entry 4 of 5)

: fruit carpogonium

-carp

noun combining form

Definition of -carp (Entry 5 of 5)

: part of a fruit mesocarp : fruit schizocarp

Other Words from carp Synonyms & Antonyms Did you know? Example Sentences Learn More About carp

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Did you know?

Verb

You might guess that the verb carp word is a descendant of the noun referring to a type of fish. That's a reasonable speculation, but the verb actually preceded the fish's name into the English language by approximately a century. Its origins are Scandinavian: it may be related to the Icelandic verb karpa, meaning "to dispute" or "to wrangle," and beyond that perhaps to Old Norse karp, meaning "boasting" or "arrogance." In the early 20th century, English speakers also coined a second noun carp (meaning "complaint") from this verb.

Examples of carp in a Sentence

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

History and Etymology for carp

Verb

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

Noun (2)

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

Combining form

French & New Latin, from Greek karp-, karpo-, from karpos — more at harvest

Noun combining form

New Latin -carpium, from Greek -karpion, from karpos

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Cite this Entry

“Carp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carp. Accessed 23 Jun. 2021.

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More Definitions for carp

carp

verb

English Language Learners Definition of carp

: to complain in an annoying way

See the full definition for carp in the English Language Learners Dictionary

carp

verb

\ ˈkärp

\

carped; carping

Kids Definition of carp

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to complain in an annoying way

carp

noun

Kids Definition of carp (Entry 2 of 2)

: a freshwater fish that lives a long time and is often used for food

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