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crab
1[ krab ]
noun
- any decapod crustacean of the suborder Brachyura, having the eyes on short stalks and a short, broad, more or less flattened body, the abdomen being small and folded under the thorax.
- any of various other crustaceans, as the hermit crab, or other animals, as the horseshoe crab, resembling the true crabs.
- Crab,
- Astronomy. the Crab Nebula.
- any of various mechanical contrivances for hoisting or pulling.
- Aeronautics. the maneuver of crabbing.
- Informal. the crab louse. louse1
- crabs,
- (used with a singular verb) a losing throw, as two aces, in the game of hazard.
verb (used without object)
- to catch or attempt to catch crabs.
- to move sideways, diagonally, or obliquely, especially with short, abrupt bursts of speed; scuttle.
- Aeronautics. (of an aircraft) to head partly into the wind to compensate for drift.
- Nautical. to drift or advance with some movement sideways, especially when under tow.
verb (used with object)
- to move (a vehicle or object) sideways, diagonally, or obliquely, especially with short, abrupt movements.
- Aeronautics. to head (an aircraft) partly into the wind to compensate for drift.
crab
2[ krab ]
noun
- a crab apple fruit or tree.
crab
3[ krab ]
noun
- Informal. an ill-tempered or grouchy person.
verb (used without object)
- Informal. to find fault; complain.
- (of hawks) to claw each other.
verb (used with object)
- Informal. to find fault with.
- to make ill-tempered or grouchy; embitter.
- (of a hawk) to claw (another hawk).
- Slang. to spoil.
Crab
1/ kræb /
noun
- the Crabthe constellation Cancer, the fourth sign of the zodiac
crab
2/ kræb /
noun
- any chiefly marine decapod crustacean of the genus Cancer and related genera (section Brachyura ), having a broad flattened carapace covering the cephalothorax, beneath which is folded the abdomen. The first pair of limbs are modified as pincers See also fiddler crab soft-shell crab pea crab oyster crab cancroid
- any of various similar or related arthropods, such as the hermit crab and horseshoe crab
- short for crab louse
- a manoeuvre in which an aircraft flies slightly into the crosswind to compensate for drift
- a mechanical lifting device, esp the travelling hoist of a gantry crane
- wrestling See Boston crab
- catch a crabrowing to make a stroke in which the oar either misses the water or digs too deeply, causing the rower to fall backwards
verb
- intr to hunt or catch crabs
- tr to fly (an aircraft) slightly into a crosswind to compensate for drift
- intr nautical to move forwards with a slight sideways motion, as to overcome an offsetting current
- intr to move sideways
crab
3/ kræb /
verb
- intr to find fault; grumble
- tr to spoil (esp in the phrase crab someone's act )
noun
- an irritable person
- draw the crabsto attract unwelcome attention
crab
4/ kræb /
noun
- short for crab apple
Other Words From
- crablike adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of crab1
Word History and Origins
Origin of crab1
Origin of crab2
Origin of crab3
Idioms and Phrases
- catch a crab, to make a faulty stroke in rowing, so that the oar strikes the water forcibly on the backstroke.
Example Sentences
Jue said he has three other types of fishing permits, which allow him to continue earning a living by catching Dungeness crab, rock crab and rockfish.
The adults chill and maybe have a High Noon and some chips while the kids play and look for sand crabs and boogie board and climb the rocks.
Some gulls are coming to live closer to people, adding human leftovers to their natural menu of fish, crabs, starfish and earthworms.
Thousands of people tune in to watch pilots perform a "crabbing" movement during stormy conditions and strong crosswinds.
The pilots appear to have attempted what is known as a crab manoeuvre, Mr Ronan said.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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