crustacean

[ kruh-stey-shuhn ]

noun

1. 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

1. belonging or pertaining to the crustaceans.

crustacean

/ krʌˈsteɪʃən /

noun

1. 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

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Crustacea

crustacean

/ krŭ-stā′shən /

1. 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.

crustacean

1. A class of arthropods with shells.

Notes

Crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and crayfish are crustaceans.

Word History and Origins

Origin of crustacean¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of crustacean¹

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

Example Sentences

Ecdysozoans include all the arthropods, including insects, crustaceans, and spiders, as well as tardigrades, and roundworms, or nematodes.

From Science Magazine

It uses a cavernous hood to trap crustaceans to eat — a feeding strategy also used by anemones and some jellies.

From Los Angeles Times

But as transport networks made travel easier and food storage improved, more and more people were introduced to the crustacean.

From BBC

For example, they’ve witnessed people wading into the water in the tidepools, a sensitive habitat that’s home to a variety of sea life, including octopus, urchins, sea stars, crustaceans and small fish.

From Los Angeles Times

Shipments that comply with U.S. law are safe — but not all shipments do, said Julie Lively, a crustacean expert and associate professor at the Louisiana State University AgCenter.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• shellfish