# lobster

/ˈɫɑbstɝ/ (US) · /lˈɒbstɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lobster
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. sea creature / food

noun · CEFR A2

a large sea animal with a hard shell and two big claws, often eaten as expensive seafood.

For teachers: a large marine crustacean with a stalked eye and five pairs of legs, the first of which is developed into large pincers.

- We went to a fancy restaurant on the coast and ordered fresh lobster for dinner.
- The local economy relies heavily on the export of live lobster, which are caught using traditional wooden traps in the cold Atlantic waters.

### 2. British soldier

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · British English · Slang

a historical nickname for a British soldier because of their bright red coats.

For teachers: a historical slang term for a British soldier, specifically referring to the iconic red coats worn by the infantry.

- In the old stories, the villagers hid when they saw the lobsters marching toward the town.
- The term 'lobster' was frequently used as a derogatory label by American colonists when referring to the occupying British regulars during the Revolutionary War.

### 3. Australian currency

noun · CEFR C1 · Dialect · Slang · Informal

a slang name for an Australian twenty-dollar bill because it is red.

For teachers: a colloquialism for an Australian twenty-dollar banknote, derived from its distinctive reddish-orange colour.

- Can you lend me a lobster until I get to the bank tomorrow?
- He reached into his wallet and pulled out a couple of lobsters to pay for the round of drinks.

### 4. to catch lobsters

verb · CEFR B2

to go out on a boat to catch lobsters for work or fun.

For teachers: to engage in the commercial or recreational fishing of lobsters.

- His family has been lobstering in this bay for three generations.
- The crew spent the entire season lobstering off the coast of Maine, despite the increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.

Usage: The verb is usually intransitive.

### 5. sunburnt

adjective · CEFR B1 · Informal

having very red skin, usually from staying in the sun too long.

For teachers: exhibiting a bright red complexion, typically as a result of acute solar erythema or extreme embarrassment.

- He forgot to wear sunscreen at the beach and came home looking like a lobster.
- After spending the entire afternoon hiking without a hat, his face was positively lobster by the time he reached the summit.

## Examples

- We ordered fresh lobster for our anniversary dinner.
- The local fishermen set their traps early in the morning to catch lobster along the rocky coast.
- Marine biologists are studying how rising ocean temperatures affect the migration patterns and shell development of the North Atlantic lobster.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.