crab
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a sea animal with a hard shell, ten legs, and two claws that it uses for pinching.
n.a decapod crustacean of the infraorder Brachyura, characterized by a thick exoskeleton and a pair of chelae.
Simple“We saw a small crab scuttling across the sand and hiding under a rock.”
In context“The children spent the afternoon exploring the tide pools, hoping to catch a glimpse of a ghost crab before it buried itself in the silt.”
Synonymscrustacean - 02 A2 Elementary
n.the meat of a crab used as food.
n.the edible flesh of the crab, typically harvested from the claws and legs.
Simple“The restaurant is famous for its fresh crab cakes and seafood soup.”
In context“The chef recommended the linguine with hand-picked crab meat, lemon, and a hint of chili to highlight the delicate sweetness of the shellfish.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.someone who is easily annoyed or always in a bad mood.
n.an informal term for a person who is habitually irritable, cynical, or bad-tempered.
Simple“Don't be such a crab just because we have to wake up early.”
In context“Ever since he lost his glasses, he has been a total crab, snapping at anyone who tries to help him find them.”
Synonymsgrouchgrump - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the constellation or the star sign called Cancer.
n.the constellation Cancer or the fourth sign of the zodiac, represented by the image of a crab.
Simple“In Greek mythology, the crab was sent to distract Hercules during his fight.”
In context“The astronomer pointed out the faint stars that form the Crab, explaining its significance in ancient celestial navigation.”
Synonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
v.to complain or find fault with something in an annoying way.
v.to grumble or find fault peevishly; to complain about trivial matters.
Simple“He is always crabbing about the weather, even when it is sunny.”
In context“The tenants spent the entire meeting crabbing about the minor increase in service charges without acknowledging the improvements made to the building.”
Antonyms - 06 C2 Proficiency
v.to move sideways, like the way a crab walks.
v.to move or drift sideways or diagonally, particularly in aviation or cinematography.
Simple“The pilot had to crab the plane into the wind to stay on course.”
In context“The camera operator began to crab the rig to the left to maintain the framing as the actors moved across the courtyard.”
Synonymsdriftsidestep