often attributive
1
plural crabs also crab
: any of numerous chiefly marine broadly built decapod crustaceans:
a
: any of an infraorder (Brachyura) with a short broad usually flattened carapace, a small abdomen that curls forward beneath the body, short antennae, and the anterior pair of limbs modified as grasping pincers
b
: any of various crustaceans of an infraorder (Anomura) resembling true crabs in the more or less reduced condition of the abdomen
2
Crab
: cancer sense 1
3
crabs plural
: infestation with crab lice
4
: the angular difference between an aircraft's course and the heading necessary to make that course in the presence of a crosswind
crabbed; crabbing
1
: to fish for crabs
2
a(1)
: to move sideways indirectly or diagonally
(2)
: to crab an airplane
b
: to scuttle or scurry sideways
1
: to cause to move sideways or in an indirect or diagonal manner
specifically
: to head (an airplane) into a crosswind to counteract drift
2
: to subject to crabbing
crabbed; crabbing
1
: to make sullen : sour
old age has crabbed his nature
2
: to complain about peevishly
Examples of crab in a Sentence
Noun (3)
you're always such a crab in the morning!
Verb (2)
their two-year-old whined and crabbed for the whole car trip
crabbed the blossoming romance by becoming moody and demanding
Recent Examples on the Web
Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
The small crabs and shrimp in the sargassum, which attract sea turtles and mahi mahi offshore, also can attract stingrays inshore.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Tessa Bentulan, Baltimore Sun, 9 June 2026
For example, since both axles have the same degrees of steering, the Zoox robotaxi can crab walk far more effectively than the GM Hummer EV performing its party trick.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crab
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Noun
Marinated tofu pockets are stuffed with rich crab meat and fried twice to achieve a thin and crispy shell that perfectly complements the crab meat inside.
—Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
The small crabs and shrimp in the sargassum, which attract sea turtles and mahi mahi offshore, also can attract stingrays inshore.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Verb
As the crabbing season gains momentum, Maryland watermen are grappling with a surge in operational expenses, led by high fuel prices that are forcing them to pass rising costs on to consumers.
—Tessa Bentulan, Baltimore Sun, 9 June 2026
For example, since both axles have the same degrees of steering, the Zoox robotaxi can crab walk far more effectively than the GM Hummer EV performing its party trick.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crab
Cite this Entry
“Crab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crab. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
crab
1 of 4 noun1
: any of various crustaceans with a short broad usually flattened shell of chitin, a small abdomen curled forward beneath the body, and a front pair of limbs with strong pincers
also
: any of various other crustaceans resembling the true crabs in having an abdomen much reduced in size
2
capitalized
: cancer sense 1
3
: any of various machines for raising or hauling heavy weights
4
plural
: the state of being infested with crab lice
crab
2 of 4 verb
crabbed; crabbing
: to fish for crabs
crabber
noun
crab
4 of 4 noun1
2
: a sour ill-tempered person
Medical Definition
crab
noun1
: any of a tribe (Brachyura) of chiefly marine crustaceans with a short broad usually flattened carapace, a small abdomen that curls forward beneath the body, short antennae, and the anterior pair of limbs modified as grasping pincers
2
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