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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

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 Their boils also come in varieties that include other seafood alongside crawfish, so the rare crawfish hater in the family can have shrimp or crab instead. —

Abigail Rosenthal, Chron, 8 Feb. 2023 Findings in Gruta da Figueira Brava demonstrate that Neanderthals cooked the shellfish and crab over coals and then broke them open to eat the meat that was inside. —

Mac Stone, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2023 Dishes like northern-style laap sausage; pollock in a sour curry; or glass noodles baked with pork belly and crab in a clay pot are excellent and full-throated spicy. —

Eric Asimov, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2023 Restaurant owners are facing rising prices on everything from beef to chicken wings to crab. —

Christina Tkacik, baltimoresun.com, 20 July 2021

Noun

The Disney cast includes Melissa McCarthy as the evil sea witch Ursula, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian the crab, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder the fish and Awkwafina as Scuttle the seabird. —

Jordan Moreau, Variety, 26 May 2023 Bulky crab traps get caught in shrimping nets, tearing them open or blocking them from catching shrimp. —

Ilima Loomis, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 May 2023 In an installation, Curren attaches paper crabs to bottles filled with blue liquid to illustrate the use of the animals’ distinctive blue blood in medical testing. —

Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 12 May 2023 Chicken cordon bleu, a burger bar and crab cakes are all dinner options to make for Mother's Day. —

Fox News, 12 May 2023 Recipes featuring green crabs are available on Wulf’s website — for free. —

Peggy Hernandez, BostonGlobe.com, 2 May 2023 There are a handful of toppings to choose from, but the pesto and Dungeness crab is a current favorite. —

Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2023 But Norfolk also has a certain charm in autumn, winter and spring – when cosy fires warm you after windswept yomps across fields and long lunches spent eating Cromer crab sandwiches and potted shrimp (try The Victoria on Holkham Estate for a quintessential pub lunch elevated to new heights). —

Angelina Villa-clarke, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2023 The Menu: Starters included Lambay Island crab cake and asparagus, while Biden was treated to duck fat fondant potato, rainbow carrots, pea and mint puree, sherry vinegar lamb jus, roast saddle of lamb and confit lamb shoulder as main courses. —

Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 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 7 Jun. 2023.

Copy Citation

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