blue crab
Definition
Noun: 1. A species of crab: A bluish-colored, edible crab (Callinectes sapidus) native to the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico coasts of North America. It is a common and important source of fresh crabmeat. 2. The meat of this crab: The edible flesh harvested from the blue crab.
Usage Examples
- As the animal:
- The blue crab is easily identified by its distinctive blue claws and olive-green shell.
- We went crabbing in the estuary and caught several blue crabs.
- As the food:
- This restaurant is famous for its blue crab cakes.
- For the salad, I prefer the sweet, delicate flavor of blue crab.
Advanced Usage
- "Soft-shell blue crab": Refers to a blue crab that has recently molted its hard exoskeleton. During this brief period, the entire crab is soft and can be eaten whole.
- The seasonal specialty of fried soft-shell blue crab is a delicacy.
Variants and Related Words
- Blue-claw crab: A common regional name for the blue crab.
- Chesapeake blue crab: A famous regional variety from the Chesapeake Bay.
- Callinectes sapidus: The scientific (Latin) name for the species.
Synonyms
- Atlantic blue crab
- Chesapeake crab (regional)
Related Phrases
- To pick blue crab: The act of extracting meat from a cooked blue crab, which is often a social, hands-on dining experience.
- We spent the afternoon on the dock, learning how to properly pick blue crab.
Noun
-
bluish edible crab of Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of North America
-
Atlantic crab; most common source of fresh crabmeat
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