often attributive
1
plural crabs also crab
: any of numerous chiefly marine broadly built decapod crustaceans:
a
: 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
b
: any of various crustaceans of an infraorder (Anomura) resembling true crabs in the more or less reduced condition of the abdomen
2
capitalized
: cancer sense 1
3
crabs plural
: infestation with crab lice
4
: the angular difference between an aircraft's course and the heading necessary to make that course in the presence of a crosswind
crabbed; crabbing
1
: to fish for crabs
2
a(1)
: to move sideways indirectly or diagonally
(2)
: to crab an airplane
b
: to scuttle or scurry sideways
1
: to cause to move sideways or in an indirect or diagonal manner
specifically
: to head (an airplane) into a crosswind to counteract drift
2
: to subject to crabbing
crabbed; crabbing
1
: to make sullen : sour
old age has crabbed his nature
2
: to complain about peevishly
Synonyms
Noun (3)
- bear
- bellyacher
- complainer
- crank
- croaker
- crosspatch
- curmudgeon
- fusser
- griper
- grouch
- grouser
- growler
- grumbler
- grump
- murmurer
- mutterer
- sourpuss
- whiner
Verb (2)
Examples of crab in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2024
Fans will have an abundance of options this year, thanks to the new executive chef, Sheldon Morgan: from Vietnamese street tacos to crab Rangoon.
—David Wysong, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024
The team’s boat, aptly named the Princess, spends its winters commercial crabbing out of Noyo Harbor and brings its delicious finds to land.
—Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 31 Jan. 2024
Each off-shoot is connected by a joint, many of which had been booby-trapped, that one has to crab walk to get through.
—Matt Gutman, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2024
The 2020 crabbing season was officially set to begin Dec. 23, but price negotiations between crab fleets and seafood processors delayed the start until early January 2021.
—Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2024
Enjoy city life at the new Pacific Standard Hotel one day, then head out for an adventure on the Oregon Coast to go crabbing with Antica Terra out on the Oregon Coast, or book in for a night of indulgent dining at The Tributary Hotel in the Willamette Valley wine region.
—Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 19 Dec. 2023
The allure of the shrimping and crabbing life was too strong.
—Amy Qin Callaghan O’Hare, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023
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
Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Move on to jumbo lump crab cakes or a cup of creamy New England clam chowder.
—Ari Bendersky, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
Several foods, including Imitation crab, tofu, edamame, sprouts, fish cakes and gyoza were all improperly stored.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 12 Apr. 2024
Kathy Russell, Executive Director of the Wyoming GOP, is challenging incumbent state Representative Bob Nicholas for House District 7— who's known for winning primaries by wide margins, and for hosting end-of-session crab boils for the Wyoming legislature.
—USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2024
This can have devastating impacts on the thousands of fish, crabs and other marine species that rely on the reefs for refuge and food.
—Sabrina Weiss, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024
The praline beignets are decadent and the Rampart Street location offers savory varieties like crab meat beignets and breakfast versions.
—Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 19 Mar. 2024
Meanwhile, get babies moving and grooving with 47% off of the viral crawling crab toy or more than 60% off the popular dancing cactus toy, both on sale for $16 or less.
—Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 19 Mar. 2024
Our favorite is a sweet chili sauce the compliments the imitation crab and savory cheese filling.
—Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2024
Verb
In Zones 1 and 2 (Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties), crabbing may continue, though officials are limiting fishermen to a depth restriction of 30 fathoms, about 180 feet.
—Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2024
Fans will have an abundance of options this year, thanks to the new executive chef, Sheldon Morgan: from Vietnamese street tacos to crab Rangoon.
—David Wysong, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024
The team’s boat, aptly named the Princess, spends its winters commercial crabbing out of Noyo Harbor and brings its delicious finds to land.
—Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 31 Jan. 2024
Each off-shoot is connected by a joint, many of which had been booby-trapped, that one has to crab walk to get through.
—Matt Gutman, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2024
The 2020 crabbing season was officially set to begin Dec. 23, but price negotiations between crab fleets and seafood processors delayed the start until early January 2021.
—Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2024
Enjoy city life at the new Pacific Standard Hotel one day, then head out for an adventure on the Oregon Coast to go crabbing with Antica Terra out on the Oregon Coast, or book in for a night of indulgent dining at The Tributary Hotel in the Willamette Valley wine region.
—Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 19 Dec. 2023
The allure of the shrimping and crabbing life was too strong.
—Amy Qin Callaghan O’Hare, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023
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
Noun
Look for items such as a buttery flatbread topped with escargots, smoked bacon and lemon; rigatoni in a crab pomodoro sauce; mussels in a merguez-and-saffron broth; and chocolate mousse.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Move on to jumbo lump crab cakes or a cup of creamy New England clam chowder.
—Ari Bendersky, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
Several foods, including Imitation crab, tofu, edamame, sprouts, fish cakes and gyoza were all improperly stored.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 12 Apr. 2024
Kathy Russell, Executive Director of the Wyoming GOP, is challenging incumbent state Representative Bob Nicholas for House District 7— who's known for winning primaries by wide margins, and for hosting end-of-session crab boils for the Wyoming legislature.
—USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2024
This can have devastating impacts on the thousands of fish, crabs and other marine species that rely on the reefs for refuge and food.
—Sabrina Weiss, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024
The praline beignets are decadent and the Rampart Street location offers savory varieties like crab meat beignets and breakfast versions.
—Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 19 Mar. 2024
Meanwhile, get babies moving and grooving with 47% off of the viral crawling crab toy or more than 60% off the popular dancing cactus toy, both on sale for $16 or less.
—Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 19 Mar. 2024
Our favorite is a sweet chili sauce the compliments the imitation crab and savory cheese filling.
—Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2024
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.
Dictionary Entries Near crab
Cite this Entry
“Crab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crab. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
crab
1 of 4 noun1
: 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
2
capitalized
: cancer sense 1
3
: any of various machines for raising or hauling heavy weights
4
plural
: the state of being infested with crab lice
crab
2 of 4 verb
crabbed; crabbing
: to fish for crabs
crabber
noun
crab
4 of 4 noun1
2
: a sour ill-tempered person
Medical Definition
crab
noun1
: 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
2
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share