crab Definition
- 1a sea creature with a flat round body covered by a shell, and five pairs of legs, the first of which are modified as pincers
- 2a crustacean with a broad carapace, stalked eyes, and five pairs of legs, the first pair of which are modified as pincers
- 3a sour or bad-tempered person, especially an old one
Using crab: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "crab" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
I love eating crab legs.
Example
The beach was full of crabs scurrying around.
Example
He's such a crab in the morning.
Example
She's always crabbing about something.
crab Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for crab
Idioms Using crab
a way of thinking where people try to bring others down or prevent them from achieving success, often due to jealousy or resentment
Example
The team suffered from crab mentality, with each member trying to sabotage the others' work.
Example
The project went sideways like a crab when the team leader quit.
Example
He had to walk sideways like a crab to fit through the narrow doorway.
Phrases with crab
to make a mistake while rowing, so that the oar is pulled into the water and slows the boat down
Example
He caught a crab and nearly fell out of the boat.
Example
She made a delicious crab apple pie for dessert.
Example
The fitness instructor had us do crab walks across the gym floor.
Summary: crab in Brief
A 'crab' [kræb] is a sea creature with a flat round body covered by a shell, and five pairs of legs, the first of which are modified as pincers. It can also refer to a sour or bad-tempered person. The term extends into phrases like 'catch a crab,' referring to a rowing mistake, and idioms like 'crab mentality,' denoting a negative mindset. 'Crab' has informal synonyms like 'shellfish' and 'critter.'
