Definition of lobster
1 : any of a family (Nephropidae and especially Homarus americanus) of large edible marine decapod crustaceans that have stalked eyes, a pair of large claws, and a long abdomen and that include species from coasts on both sides of the North Atlantic and from the Cape of Good Hope
2 : spiny lobster
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Examples of lobster in a Sentence
I had lobster for dinner.
Recent Examples of lobster from the Web
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Some kinds of shellfish and fishery products, including lobsters and oysters, are exempt from these inspections.
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A guacamole trio posed some distinct choices, the chunky regular, a house-favorite of bacon and blue cheese (two thumbs way up for the counterpoints) and a seafood with bits of lobster and roe.
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There’s no lobster on the tour, but her statement is an example of how food can help tell the history of place, particularly one that's gone through dramatic transition—from Danish slave colony to tourist hotspot.
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The folks on Cape Cod like their lobster rolls and fried clams with water views.
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Maine’s tourism industry is having a difficult time finding workers during record low unemployment in the state, known for its lighthouses, lobster shacks and beaches.
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The darkest moment of John Aldridge’s 12 terrifying hours of floating alone in the Atlantic Ocean came in the first moments after he was flung off his lobster boat.
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Recently however, scientists figured out that the peptide toxins in spider venom are part of a bigger biological family originally found in crustaceans---crabs and lobsters.
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The answer: that depends on what your definition of a lobster is.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lobster'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of lobster
Origin and Etymology of lobster
Middle English, from Old English loppestre, from loppe spider
First Known Use: before 12th century
LOBSTER Defined for English Language Learners
lobster
playDefinition of lobster for English Language Learners
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: an ocean animal that has a long body, a hard shell, and a pair of large claws and that is caught for food
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: the meat of the lobster eaten as food
LOBSTER Defined for Kids
lobster
playDefinition of lobster for Students
: a large edible sea animal that is a crustacean with five pairs of legs of which the first pair usually has large claws
Learn More about lobster
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See words that rhyme with lobster Spanish Central: Translation of lobster Nglish: Translation of lobster for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lobster
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