carp

1 of 5

verb

ˈkärp 

carped; carping; carps

intransitive verb

: to find fault or complain querulously

carper noun

carp

2 of 5

noun (1)

: complaint

carp

3 of 5

noun (2)

plural carp or carps

1

: a large variable Eurasian 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-

4 of 5

combining form

variants or carpo-

: fruit

carpogonium

-carp

5 of 5

noun combining form

: part of a fruit

mesocarp

: fruit

schizocarp

Synonyms

Verb

• complain
• scream
• whine
• moan

Noun (1)

• whine
• bitch
• fuss
• complaint
• moan
• grouse
• grievance
• beef
• lament

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.

Noun (1)

the usual carp about that restaurant is that the service is slow

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Those carping about the vibes are not going to convince the vibes proponents to back down. —Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025

This boost in fandom’s age and status possibly explains its current sense of privilege, its tendency to carp and cavil rather than contribute or create. —Christian Holub, EW.com, 28 Oct. 2024

Noun

On June 1, a 45.8 pound carp caught by Rafal Wlazo set the state record before being broken by Samok. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2025

Grass carp are not native to Idaho, but they are found in multiple areas around the state, according to wildlife officials. —Helena Wegner, Idaho Statesman, 13 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing carp

• Asian carp
• bighead carp
• black carp
• crucian carp
• grass carp
• silver carp

Rhymes for carp

• carp
• harp
• scarp
• tarp
• endocarp
• pericarp

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Kids Definition

carp

1 of 2 verb

ˈkärp 

: to find fault : complain

carper noun

carp

2 of 2 noun

plural carp or carps

: a large Asian freshwater fish often raised for food and widely introduced into U.S. waters

also : any of various related or similar fishes