crab

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈkrab

often attributive

Synonyms of crab next

plural crabs also crab : any of numerous chiefly marine broadly built decapod crustaceans:

: any of an infraorder (Brachyura) with a short broad usually flattened carapace, a small abdomen that curls forward beneath the body, short antennae, and the anterior pair of limbs modified as grasping pincers

: any of various crustaceans of an infraorder (Anomura) resembling true crabs in the more or less reduced condition of the abdomen

capitalized : cancer sense 1

crabs plural : infestation with crab lice

: the angular difference between an aircraft's course and the heading necessary to make that course in the presence of a crosswind

crab

2 of 5

verb (1)

crabbed; crabbing

intransitive verb

: to fish for crabs

a(1)

: to move sideways indirectly or diagonally

(2)

: to crab an airplane

: to scuttle or scurry sideways

transitive verb

: to cause to move sideways or in an indirect or diagonal manner

specifically : to head (an airplane) into a crosswind to counteract drift

: to subject to crabbing

crab

3 of 5

noun (2)

: crab apple

crab

4 of 5

noun (3)

: an ill-tempered person : grouch

crab

5 of 5

verb (2)

crabbed; crabbing

transitive verb

: to make sullen : sour

old age has crabbed his nature

: to complain about peevishly

: spoil, ruin

intransitive verb

: carp, grouse

always crabs about the weather

Examples of crab in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Proceeds from the community’s investment in crabbing boats had paid the heating bills of older people; the boats also supplied the elderly with crab and halibut for their freezers. —

WIRED, 15 July 2023 It’s been a fur trading vessel in the Aleutian Islands, an oil tanker in WWII, a tow boat on the Columbia River, and a crabbing boat in the Bering Sea. —

Jessie Sheldon, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Aug. 2023 At the sustainably minded, high-end winery, instead of having vinophiles belly up to the bar at a staid tasting room, winemaker and managing director Maggie Harrison opts to take guests out into nature, offering two different field tastings: foraging in the forest and crabbing along the coast. —

Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 30 Mar. 2023 Anyone, residents and non-residents, can fish, dig clams or go crabbing without a license or tag that Saturday and Sunday. —

Bill Monroe, oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023 Or, try fishing or crabbing the nearby scenic tideland creek. —

Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 30 Mar. 2023 Many boats continued to crab in the southern zone. —

Anchorage Daily News, 4 Apr. 2022 Today, however, most of the oyster boats in Pass Christian’s harbor have been sold or re-fitted for crabbing or shrimping. —

Anita Lee, ProPublica, 22 Mar. 2023 The entire family can meet the resort’s resident falcons and owls, head out on an early morning Sea Turtle Dawn Patrol, go crabbing and fishing off Cloister Dock, try horseback riding, or just kick it at the pool or beach. —

L'oreal Thompson Payton, Fortune Well, 9 Mar. 2023

Noun

There’s this cake pendant necklace for $31.60 (valued at $79) (pictured at the top) and this crab tote bag for $146.88 (valued at $459) (pictured at the top). —

Kaylee Remington, cleveland, 13 Sep. 2023 Fugitive Pennsylvania killer used previous escapee's 'crab walking' breakout method: Warden Sept. 2 Cavalcante is recorded around 1:43 a.m. on a residential Ring doorbell camera on the 1800 block of Lenape Road in Pocopson Township, about 1.5 miles from the prison, officials say. —

Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 12 Sep. 2023 Guests are welcome to eat their crab toast or pear tart anywhere, further adding to the upscale house party vibe. —

Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2023 The two leaders dined on local specialties including duck salad with figs and nectarine, crab dumplings, fish soup, sturgeon and Russian white and red wines. —

Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 13 Sep. 2023 Cold apps include a Seafood Goblet with shrimp and crab; a Watermelon Stack with herbs, crab and viper vinaigrette; and a Southern Charcuterie. Entrees include a selection of sandwiches, tacos, bowls and salads, plus various catch-of-the-day specials. —

Lawrence Specker | Lspecker@al.com, al, 11 Sep. 2023 Whole crabs can be intimidating with their spiny shells and tough-to-crack exteriors. —

Saveur Editors, Saveur, 7 Sep. 2023 Fouled propellers, fruitless days on the water, crabs jumping out of the pot and running from him. —

Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2023 Pick from Dungeness crab, lobster, beef and pork, as well as such specialties as mantis shrimp, geoduck clams and spot shrimp. —

Kolbie Peterson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 21 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crab.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English crabbe, from Old English crabba; akin to Old High German krebiz crab and perhaps to Old English ceorfan to carve — more at carve

Noun (2)

Middle English crabbe, perhaps from crabbe crab entry 1

Verb (2)

Middle English crabben, probably back-formation from crabbed

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Verb (1)

1657, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1580, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1662, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of crab was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Crab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crab. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.

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Kids Definition

crab

1 of 4 noun

ˈkrab

: any of various crustaceans with a short broad usually flattened shell of chitin, a small abdomen curled forward beneath the body, and a front pair of limbs with strong pincers

also : any of various other crustaceans resembling the true crabs in having an abdomen much reduced in size

capitalized : cancer sense 1

: any of various machines for raising or hauling heavy weights

plural : the state of being infested with crab lice

crab

2 of 4 verb

crabbed; crabbing

: to fish for crabs

crabber noun

crab

3 of 4 verb

crabbed; crabbing

: to find fault : complain

crab

4 of 4 noun

: crab apple

: a sour ill-tempered person

Medical Definition

crab

noun

ˈkrab

: any of a tribe (Brachyura) of chiefly marine crustaceans with a short broad usually flattened carapace, a small abdomen that curls forward beneath the body, short antennae, and the anterior pair of limbs modified as grasping pincers

crabs plural : infestation with pubic lice

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crab

noun (1)

verb (1)

noun (2)

noun (3)

verb (2)

Synonyms

Examples of crab in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near crab

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition