MEANING
An animal of a group including crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and barnacles, typically with a hard outer covering and jointed limbs.
Use it for
grouping crabs shrimp and related animals; distinguishing crustaceans from mollusks; describing jointed marine animals with external armorDistinguishes jointed, externally armored animals from mollusks with shells. Writing functions: Hard-shelled jointed animal group.
Words that belong together
- marine crustaceans
- crustacean larvae
- a crustacean shell
On the page
The sample contained tiny crustaceans as well as fish eggs.
A crab is a crustacean, whereas a limpet is a mollusk.
Word forms
- Base
- crustacean
Usage notes
Countable noun: crustacean, crustaceans. Also an adjective; crustaceans includes freshwater and some land animals. Register: technical. Commonness: moderately common (dictionary-informed qualitative editorial estimate; not a measured frequency).
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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