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

dipterocarp

Did you know?

Though someone might hypothetically carp about the fish known as carp, the similarity between the words is wholly coincidental. Both entered the English language in the 15th century but from different sources. Like many terms for plants and animals adopted at that point in the language’s history, the fish’s name traces back to Late Latin, but the verb is of Scandinavian origin. It shares an ancestor with the Icelandic verb karpa, meaning “to dispute.” We promise there’s nothing fishy about that.

Synonyms of carp

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

Senior executives carped about Chapek to Disney board members. —Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026

Trump’s carping notwithstanding, economic growth spiked during Powell’s first year to 3 percent, the highest since the mid-2000s, and wages rose at the fastest rate since before the financial crisis. —Roger Lowenstein, The Atlantic, 16 Jan. 2026

Noun

Bring a fishing pole, as Sugar Creek is filled with bass, carp, and a host of panfish. —Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 19 Jan. 2026

Massignac, France Occupying a 13th-century château that’s two hours by car from Bordeaux, Domaine des Etangs, Auberge Collection has seven tranquil ponds stocked with carp, perch, and pike dotted across its 2,500-acre grounds. —Kinsey Gidick, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026

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