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
Noun (3)
you're always such a crab in the morning!
Verb (2)
their two-year-old whined and crabbed for the whole car trip
crabbed the blossoming romance by becoming moody and demanding
Recent Examples on the Web
Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2024
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
Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 10 May 2024
All furniture, 2 window AC units & 2 heaters convey as well as crab pots, tools, tackle, & household items.
—Tj MacIas, Miami Herald, 8 May 2024
Get the salmon Dragon Roll that’s just lovely, topped with Norwegian salmon and avocado, rolled with imitation crab and cucumber.
—Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2024
Deadliest Catch, the long-running reality series about the high-stakes world of crab fishing, is back with new episodes.
—Stacy Lambe, Peoplemag, 6 May 2024
Choose from two of the following: Premium choice chateaubriand cut filet mignon, lump crab cakes, and Chilean sea bass cakes, whipped potatoes with rosemary, asparagus with red peppers and sea salt butter, and eight chocolate dipped strawberries.
—Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 6 May 2024
Along with Hazel's regular brunch items, guests can choose from offerings like soft-shell crab Benedict, prime rib and Alaskan king crab.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 5 May 2024
Now, the restaurant’s 9 p.m. tables are filling, and guests drop into the bar at 11:30 for a drink and a quick bite of pork and duck terrine, Dungeness crab Wellington, or one of nine burgers Mar serves each night.
—Caroline Hatchett, Robb Report, 3 May 2024
The property's oceanfront restaurant, Mita Mary, highlights fresh seafood and local ingredients (don't miss the soft shell crab ravioli steamed in banana leaf) in an elegant dining room set against panoramic views of the Pacific.
—Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 3 May 2024
Verb
My days were spent successfully hunting for sand dollars and starfish with my sister, crabbing along the Kiawah River, and keeping my eyes peeled for alligators maneuvering between lagoons.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2024
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
Noun
Diana peeled crab for Jamie’s mixed grill entree as a kid, and returned to do kitchen prep while enrolled in American River College’s culinary arts program, mostly to spend time with her mom.
—Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 10 May 2024
All furniture, 2 window AC units & 2 heaters convey as well as crab pots, tools, tackle, & household items.
—Tj MacIas, Miami Herald, 8 May 2024
Get the salmon Dragon Roll that’s just lovely, topped with Norwegian salmon and avocado, rolled with imitation crab and cucumber.
—Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2024
Deadliest Catch, the long-running reality series about the high-stakes world of crab fishing, is back with new episodes.
—Stacy Lambe, Peoplemag, 6 May 2024
Choose from two of the following: Premium choice chateaubriand cut filet mignon, lump crab cakes, and Chilean sea bass cakes, whipped potatoes with rosemary, asparagus with red peppers and sea salt butter, and eight chocolate dipped strawberries.
—Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 6 May 2024
Along with Hazel's regular brunch items, guests can choose from offerings like soft-shell crab Benedict, prime rib and Alaskan king crab.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 5 May 2024
Now, the restaurant’s 9 p.m. tables are filling, and guests drop into the bar at 11:30 for a drink and a quick bite of pork and duck terrine, Dungeness crab Wellington, or one of nine burgers Mar serves each night.
—Caroline Hatchett, Robb Report, 3 May 2024
The property's oceanfront restaurant, Mita Mary, highlights fresh seafood and local ingredients (don't miss the soft shell crab ravioli steamed in banana leaf) in an elegant dining room set against panoramic views of the Pacific.
—Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 3 May 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 15 May. 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
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