Word
crawfish
Phoneticscraw·fish, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɹɔˌfɪʃ/
UK/kɹˈɔːfɪʃ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a small freshwater animal that looks like a tiny lobster. People catch and boil them to eat, especially in warm southern areas.
n. a small freshwater crustacean resembling a miniature lobster, widely caught and eaten as food.
Examples
“We eat boiled crawfish with corn and potatoes.”
“At the spring festival, vendors sell sacks of spicy crawfish served on long tables for sharing.”
“The crawfish harvest, dependent on spring rains and river water levels, remains a cultural and economic anchor for small fishing communities.”
Examples
simple
“We eat boiled crawfish with corn and potatoes.”
contextual
“At the spring festival, vendors sell sacks of spicy crawfish served on long tables for sharing.”
complex
“The crawfish harvest, dependent on spring rains and river water levels, remains a cultural and economic anchor for small fishing communities.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “crawfish” in context.
Verb
01. boil crawfish
“They boil crawfish with lemon, garlic, and spicy seasoning.”
verb + noun
02. catch crawfish
“The boys catch crawfish in the creek behind their house.”
verb + noun
03. crawfish pinches
“Careful, that crawfish pinches hard if you pick it up wrong.”
noun + verb
04. eat crawfish
“We sat outside and ate crawfish with our hands.”
verb + noun
05. feed on crawfish
“Herons and bass feed on crawfish in these shallow streams.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
06. boiled crawfish
“We ordered two pounds of boiled crawfish with corn and potatoes.”
adj + noun
07. fresh crawfish
“Fresh crawfish should smell clean and slightly sweet, not fishy.”
adj + noun
08. live crawfish
“The market keeps live crawfish in large tanks of fresh water.”
adj + noun
09. a pot of boiled crawfish
“They dumped a pot of boiled crawfish onto the newspaper-covered table.”
10. catch crawfish in traps
“Farmers catch crawfish in traps set in flooded rice fields.”
11. go to a crawfish boil
“Every spring we go to a crawfish boil at my uncle's farm.”
12. peel and eat crawfish
“First twist the tail, then peel and eat crawfish in one bite.”
Usage
Plural is usually crawfish, sometimes crawfishes; also called crayfish or crawdad in other regions.
Real-World Examples
“I still go out with people who are in their 50s or 60s, who recall catching crawfish in the creek when they were seven," Bloomer said.” “The last place you might expect to find a cooked crawfish is atop a mound of ice cream, but that is exactly what an ice cream shop in Houston, Texas, serves during peak crawfish season in the spring.” “Meche can sell large, healthy crawfish for about $1.50 a pound.” Etymology
1620s, folk etymology from Middle English crevis, from Old French crevice (French écrevisse), influenced by fish. Compare crayfish.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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