shrimp

1 of 3

noun

ˈshrimp 

especially Southern ˈsrimp

plural shrimp or shrimps

1

: any of numerous mostly small and marine decapod crustaceans (suborders Dendrobranchiata and Pleocyemata) having a slender elongated body, a compressed abdomen, and a long spiny rostrum and including some (especially family Penaeidae) that are commercially important as food

also : a small crustacean (such as an amphipod or a branchiopod) resembling the true shrimp

2

usually disparaging : a very small or puny person or thing

shrimplike

ˈshrimp-ˌlīk 

ˈsrimp-

adjective

shrimpy

ˈshrim-pē 

ˈsrim-

adjective

shrimp

2 of 3

verb

shrimped; shrimping; shrimps

intransitive verb

: to fish for or catch shrimp

shrimpy

3 of 3

adjective

-pē 

-pi

-er/-est

1

: full of shrimp

a shrimpy bay

2

: diminutive

a shrimpy child

—Doris Peel

shrimpy rosebuds

—Harper's

Examples of shrimp in a Sentence

Noun

He's a little shrimp of a boy.

the boy was just a shrimp until his teens, when he had a growth spurt

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Entrees included lasagna and gnocchi scampi as well as fettuccine truffle and mushrooms, tagliatelle with zucchini and shrimp, rigatoni with fresh tomato and stracciactella and duck ragu cavatelli. — Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026

Silverton plans on adding new items such as a crab Louie, shrimp cocktail, more steak sides and sauces, steak tartare and artichoke dip. — Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

This allows the aromatics to infuse the cooking liquid, which will adequately season the shrimp. — Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026

Among the bites were shrimp cocktail, tuna tartare, Atlantic halibut, and a rigatoni pasta dish. — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English shrimpe; akin to Middle Low German schrempen to contract, wrinkle, Old Norse skorpna to shrivel up

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1808, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing shrimp

• brine shrimp
• fairy shrimp
• mantis shrimp
• popcorn chicken/shrimp
• rock shrimp
• tiger shrimp

Rhymes for shrimp

• blimp
• chimp
• crimp
• imp
• limp
• pimp
• skimp
• wimp

Kids Definition

shrimp

1 of 2 noun

ˈshrimp 

plural shrimps or shrimp

1

: any of numerous small mostly marine shellfish that are crustaceans related to the lobsters, that have a long slender body, an abdomen that is very thin from side to side, and long legs, and that include some important as food

2

: a very small or unimportant person or thing

shrimplike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

shrimp

2 of 2 verb

: to fish for or catch shrimps