crustacean

[ kruh-stey-shuh n ]
/ krʌˈsteɪ ʃən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR crustacean ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

any chiefly aquatic arthropod of the class Crustacea, typically having the body covered with a hard shell or crust, including the lobsters, shrimps, crabs, barnacles, and wood lice.

adjective

belonging or pertaining to the crustaceans.

Origin of crustacean

1825–35; < New Latin Crustace(a) (neuter plural) hard-shelled ones (see crust, -acea) + -an

Words nearby crustacean

crushed velvet, crushproof, crusie, crusoe, crust, crustacean, crustaceous, crustal, crustal plate, crusted, crustose

Words related to crustacean

shellfish

Example sentences from the Web for crustacean

British Dictionary definitions for crustacean

crustacean
/ (krʌˈsteɪʃən) /

noun

any arthropod of the mainly aquatic class Crustacea, typically having a carapace hardened with lime and including the lobsters, crabs, shrimps, woodlice, barnacles, copepods, and water fleas

adjective Also: crustaceous

of, relating to, or belonging to the Crustacea

Word Origin for crustacean

C19: from New Latin crūstāceus hard-shelled, from Latin crūsta shell, crust

Scientific definitions for crustacean

crustacean
[ krŭ-stā′shən ]

Any of various widespread arthropods of the class Crustacea that live mostly in water and have a hard shell, a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Crustaceans include crabs, lobsters, shrimp, barnacles, and copepods.

Cultural definitions for crustacean

crustacean
[ (kru-stay-shuhn) ]

A class of arthropods with shells.

notes for crustacean

Crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and crayfish are crustaceans.