Definition

1. Noun:

   • A marine crustacean: A crab is a decapod crustacean with a broad, flattened carapace, a small abdomen folded under its thorax, eyes on short stalks, and a pair of pincers. It typically moves sideways.
   • The edible flesh of this animal: The meat from a crab, considered a seafood delicacy.
   • A quarrelsome, ill-tempered person: (Informal) A person who is habitually irritable, grouchy, or complaining.
   • A parasitic insect: A louse (Phthirus pubis) that infests human pubic hair; a crab louse.
   • A mechanical device: A winch or hoisting machine, especially one on a ship.
   • An astrological sign: (Capitalized as Cancer) The fourth sign of the zodiac; also, a person born under this sign (approximately June 21 – July 22).
   • A type of apple: A small, sour wild apple or the tree it grows on (crab apple).
   • A rowing error: In rowing, a faulty stroke where the oar either misses the water or digs in too deeply, often unbalancing the boat.

2. Verb:

   • To complain peevishly: To grumble or express discontent in an irritable way.
   • To fish for crabs: To catch crabs, typically using traps or nets.
   • To move sideways: To move in a sideways or oblique manner, like a crab.
   • To maneuver an aircraft: In aviation, to point an aircraft's nose into a crosswind to maintain a straight course during landing approach.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • We found a crab hiding under a rock at the beach.
  • She ordered a plate of steamed crab with butter.
  • Don't be such a crab; try to be more pleasant.
  • The rower caught a crab, causing the boat to wobble.

• Verb:

  • He's always crabbing about the weather.
  • They went to the pier to crab for their dinner.
  • The car crabbed sideways on the icy road.

Advanced Usage

• "to catch a crab": In rowing, to make a faulty stroke with an oar.
  • The team lost because one member caught a crab near the finish line.

Variants and Related Words

• Crabby (adj): Irritable, ill-tempered.
  • He's always crabby before his morning coffee.
• Crab apple (n): A small, sour wild apple.
  • The jelly is made from crab apples.
• Crablike (adj/adv): Resembling or moving like a crab.
  • He moved in a crablike crouch.

Synonyms

• Noun (ill-tempered person): Grouch, curmudgeon, sourpuss.
• Verb (complain): Grouse, gripe, grumble, whine.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Crab" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its verbal uses are typically standalone.)

Related Idioms

• "Crabs in a barrel": A metaphor describing a situation where individuals, like crabs in a bucket, will pull down anyone who tries to rise or escape, preventing collective success.
  • The office politics felt like crabs in a barrel; no one was allowed to succeed.

Noun

1. a stroke of the oar that either misses the water or digs too deeply
   • he caught a crab and lost the race
2. a louse that infests the pubic region of the human body
3. the edible flesh of any of various crabs
4. the fourth sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about June 21 to July 22
5. (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Cancer
6. a quarrelsome grouch
7. decapod having eyes on short stalks and a broad flattened carapace with a small abdomen folded under the thorax and pincers

Verb

1. complain
   • What was he hollering about?
2. fish for crab
3. scurry sideways like a crab
4. direct (an aircraft) into a crosswind