carp

¹

[ kahrp ]

verb (used without object)

1. to find fault or complain querulously or unreasonably; be niggling in criticizing; cavil:

   to carp at minor errors.

   Synonyms: censure, condemn, deprecate, criticize

noun

1. a peevish complaint.

carp

²

[ kahrp ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) carp, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) carps.

1. a large freshwater cyprinid fish, Cyprinus carpio, native to Asia but widely introduced in tropical and temperate waters: an important food fish in many countries.
2. any of various other fishes of the family Cyprinidae.

-carp

³

1. a combining form occurring in compounds that denote a part of a fruit or fruiting body:

   endocarp.

carp.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. carpentry.

carp

¹

/ kɑːp /

verb

1. introften foll byat to complain or find fault; nag pettily

-carp

²

combining form

1. (in botany) fruit or a reproductive structure that develops into a particular part of the fruit

   epicarp

carp

³

/ kɑːp /

noun

1. a freshwater teleost food fish, Cyprinus carpio, having a body covered with cycloid scales, a naked head, one long dorsal fin, and two barbels on each side of the mouth: family Cyprinidae
2. any other fish of the family Cyprinidae; a cyprinid

Derived Forms

• ˈcarper, noun

Other Words From

• carper noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of carp¹

1200–50; Middle English carpen to speak, prate < Old Norse karpa to brag, wrangle

Origin of carp²

1350–1400; Middle English carpe < Middle French < Middle Dutch or Middle Low German karpe; cognate with Old High German karpfo

Origin of carp³

< New Latin -carpium < Greek -karpion, derivative of karpós fruit

Word History and Origins

Origin of carp¹

C13: from Old Norse karpa to boast; related to Latin carpere to pluck

Origin of carp²

from New Latin -carpium, from Greek -karpion, from karpos fruit

Origin of carp³

C14: from Old French carpe, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German karpfo, Old Norse karfi

Example Sentences

"I absolutely adore Chichester," Carp said.

From BBC

Carp said his message was "gaining momentum quickly" - with some images going viral on TikTok - though he added the council was quick to take the signs down.

From BBC

"I feel like I’m contributing to making the city a better place for everyone," said Carp.

From BBC

Carp said he also wanted to "raise awareness "about wider problems affecting the community, such as "the sewage crisis, poor state of roads and uneven pavements".

From BBC

Carp, who lives and works locally and does not want to be identified, told the BBC he wanted to satirise the city's "overregulation and lack of fun" after he noticed that warning or prohibited signs were "everywhere".

From BBC

Related Words

• grumble
• quibble

Words That Use -carp

What does -carp mean?

The combining form -carp is used like a suffix to refer to fruit or a fruiting body. A fruiting body is an organ that produces spores, which develops into a part of a fruit. It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology and botany.

The combining form -carp ultimately comes from the Greek karpós, meaning “fruit.” The combining form -carpic is used to form adjectives of words ending in -carp. Equivalent to -carpic is -carpous, meaning “fruited.”

Want to know more? Read our Words That Use -carpic and -carpous articles.

Examples of -carp

An example of a word from biology that features -carp is monocarp, meaning “a plant that dies after having once borne fruit.”

The first part of the word, mono–, might look familiar. It means “single” or “one.” The second part, –carp, means “fruit,” as we now know. Monocarp literally translates to “one fruit.”

What are some words that use the combining form –carp?

• angiocarp
• apocarp
• basidiocarp
• cystocarp
• endocarp
• epicarp
• exocarp
• mericarp
• sarcocarp
• sporocarp

What are some other forms that -carp may be commonly confused with?

• capri-
• cap.

You probably associate carp with a fish more than a fruit—or with a whole lot of complaining! We can’t quibble with those associations, but neither of these senses of carp are related to the combining form -carp.

Break it down!

The combining form exo- means “outside,” “outer,” or “external.” With this in mind, what is the exocarp of an orange?