crustacean

noun

crus·​ta·​cean ˌkrə-ˈstā-shən How to pronounce crustacean (audio)
: any of a large class (Crustacea) of mostly aquatic mandibulate arthropods that have a chitinous or calcareous and chitinous exoskeleton, a pair of often much modified appendages on each segment, and two pairs of antennae and that include the lobsters, shrimp, crabs, wood lice, water fleas, and barnacles
crustacean adjective

Examples of crustacean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The tail meat, fresh or frozen, of the tiny lobster-like crustaceans are used in a variety of dishes, including crawfish etouffee, gumbos and po-boys. Sara Cline, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024 Krill oil is a fish oil alternative made from tiny shrimp-like crustaceans, a dietary staple for Antarctic wildlife such as whales and birds. Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2024 These clones work in unison, presenting a shaggy appearance and deploying a curtain of tentacles to capture a diverse range of prey, from crustaceans to small fish. Anna Nordseth, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 Check out our best crab recipes, ranging from soft-shell to crab cakes to party dips, and all the side dishes to serve alongside your favorite crustacean. Coastal Living, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2024 That extra acidity interferes with how organisms like crustaceans build their shells, and how corals build their calcium carbonate skeletons. Matt Simon, WIRED, 18 Jan. 2024 These spheres, which reflect light like miniature disco balls, form a disorganized array with gaps in between them, so the crustaceans can still see. Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Dec. 2023 According to Quintana Beach County Park staff, the tiny crustaceans are most often seen at the water's edge, burrowing down in seafloor sediments and collecting bits of food. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 14 Dec. 2023 The study, published this month in Science of the Total Environment, identified 386 total instances of the crustaceans wearing artificial shells. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crustacean.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of crustacean was in 1835

Dictionary Entries Near crustacean

Cite this Entry

“Crustacean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crustacean. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

crustacean

noun
crus·​ta·​cean ˌkrəs-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce crustacean (audio)
: any of a large class of mostly water-dwelling arthropods (as lobsters, shrimps, crabs, wood lice, water fleas, and barnacles) having an exoskeleton of chitin or chitin and a compound of calcium
crustacean adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on crustacean

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