Pronunciation: /kræb/

Definitions of crab

noun a crustacean with a broad carapace, stalked eyes, and five pairs of legs, the first pair of which are modified as pincers

Example Sentences

A1 I saw a crab on the beach.

A2 The crab scuttled sideways across the sand.

B1 Crabs are known for their ability to regenerate limbs.

B2 The crab's shell was a vibrant shade of blue.

C1 The marine biologist studied the behavior of different crab species.

C2 The chef prepared a delicious crab bisque for the dinner party.

verb to move sideways or diagonally, especially in an awkward or evasive manner

Example Sentences

A1 The crab walked sideways along the beach.

A2 She tried to crab sideways to avoid the defender in soccer.

B1 The chef showed us how to crab a lobster for cooking.

B2 The car started to crab on the icy road, making it difficult to steer.

C1 The politician was accused of trying to crab the election results.

C2 The company was found to have crabbed the financial reports to hide losses.

adjective relating to or characteristic of a crab

Example Sentences

A1 I saw a crab-shaped sandcastle on the beach.

A2 The crabby old man yelled at the kids to get off his lawn.

B1 The restaurant served a delicious crab salad with fresh avocado.

B2 She wore a stunning crab-patterned dress to the party.

C1 The artist created a thought-provoking sculpture using crab shells.

C2 The writer's prose was as intricate and complex as a crab's shell.

Examples of crab in a Sentence

formal The marine biologist studied the behavior of the crab in its natural habitat.

informal I love going to the beach and trying to catch crabs with my friends.

slang That party was so lit, we were all dancing like crabs on a hot plate!

figurative She had a crabby attitude all day, snapping at everyone who crossed her path.

Grammatical Forms of crab

past tense

crabbed

plural

crabs

comparative

more crabby

superlative

most crabby

present tense

crabs

future tense

will crab

perfect tense

have crabbed

continuous tense

is crabbing

singular

crab

positive degree

crabby

infinitive

to crab

gerund

crabbing

participle

crabbing

Origin and Evolution of crab

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'crab' originated from the Old English word 'crabba' which was derived from the Proto-Germanic word 'krabbo'.
Evolution of the word: Originally used to refer to the crustacean, the word 'crab' has evolved to also be used as a term for a sour or bad-tempered person, as well as a verb meaning to move sideways or diagonally like a crab.