shrimp

[ shrimp ]

noun

, plural shrimps, (especially collectively) shrimp

1. any of several small, long-tailed, chiefly marine crustaceans of the decapod suborder Natania, certain species of which are used as food.
2. Informal. a diminutive or insignificant person.

verb (used without object)

1. to catch or try to catch shrimps.

adjective

1. (of food) made with or containing shrimp:

   shrimp salad.

2. of or relating to shrimp or their catching, processing, and marketing:

   a shrimp boat.

shrimp

/ ʃrɪmp /

noun

1. any of various chiefly marine decapod crustaceans of the genus Crangon and related genera, having a slender flattened body with a long tail and a single pair of pincers
2. any of various similar but unrelated crustaceans, such as the opossum shrimp and mantis shrimp
3. Also calledfreshwater shrimp any of various freshwater shrimplike amphipod crustaceans of the genus Gammarus, esp G. pulex
4. Also calledsand shrimp any of various shrimplike amphipod crustaceans of the genus Gammarus, esp G. locusta See also opossum shrimp
5. informal.
   a diminutive person, esp a child

verb

1. intr to fish for shrimps

Derived Forms

• ˈshrimper, noun

Other Words From

• shrimplike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrimp¹

1300–50; Middle English shrimpe crustacean, puny person; akin to Middle High German schrimpfen to contract, Old English scrimman to shrink

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrimp¹

C14: probably of Germanic origin; compare Middle Low German schrempen to shrink; see scrimp , crimp

Example Sentences

Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year after an all-you-can-eat shrimp fiasco contributed to financial losses; Rubio’s Coastal Grill did the same following the abrupt closure of 48 locations in California.

From Los Angeles Times

For example, users can type a description such as, “shrimp with a cowboy hat,” and will receive a corresponding emoji to use in communications or create ones based on photos of their friends and family.

From Los Angeles Times

The situation is even murkier when it comes to invertebrates like shrimp, squid and octopus.

From Salon

And if you buy shrimp, get them with the shells on; that makes amazing shrimp stock for all sorts of dishes.

From Salon

When Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida three weeks ago, Jason Madison was alone at his place, which doubled as a shrimp storefront in Keaton Beach.

From Salon

Related Words

• clam
• conch
• crawfish
• crustacean
• lobster
• mollusk
• mussel
• oyster
• prawn
• scallop
• snail