carp

1 of 5

verb

ˈkärp 

carped; carping; carps

intransitive verb

: to find fault or complain querulously

carper noun

carp

2 of 5

noun (1)

: complaint

carp

3 of 5

noun (2)

plural carp or carps

1

: a large variable Asian soft-finned freshwater cyprinid fish (Cyprinus carpio) of sluggish waters that is often raised for food and has been widely introduced into U.S. waters

also : any of various related cyprinid fishes (such as the grass carp)

2

: a fish (such as the European sea bream) resembling a carp

carp-

4 of 5

combining form

variants or carpo-

: fruit

carpogonium

-carp

5 of 5

noun combining form

: part of a fruit

mesocarp

: fruit

schizocarp

Synonyms

Verb

• beef
• bellyache
• bitch
• bleat
• caterwaul
• complain
• crab
• croak
• fuss
• gripe
• grizzle
• grouch
• grouse
• growl
• grumble
• grump
• holler
• inveigh
• keen
• kick
• kvetch
• maunder [chiefly British]
• moan
• murmur
• mutter
• nag
• repine
• scream
• squawk
• squeal
• wail
• whimper
• whine
• whinge [British]
• yammer
• yawp
• yaup
• yowl

Noun (1)

• beef
• bitch
• bleat
• complaint
• fuss
• grievance
• gripe
• grouch
• grouse
• grumble
• holler
• kvetch
• lament
• miserere
• moan
• murmur
• plaint
• squawk
• wail
• whimper
• whine
• whinge [British]
• yammer

Examples of carp in a Sentence

Verb

He's always carping about his boss.

He's tired of always being carped at by his critics.

Noun (1)

the usual carp about that restaurant is that the service is slow

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Earlier this year, House Republicans rejected bipartisan efforts to fix the problems at the U.S.-Mexico border, so now Harris gets to keep carping about them. —Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 20 June 2024

Unlike Deng, Xi doesn’t have to put up with a group of elders carping behind the scenes. —Evan S. Medeiros, Foreign Affairs, 24 Apr. 2024

Noun

The invasive carp barricade is being built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the states of Illinois and Michigan. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 2 July 2024

Certain species of invasive carp, like the bighead, are known to reproduce rapidly and can weigh up to 90 pounds. —Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 2 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Icelandic karpa to dispute

Noun (2)

Middle English carpe, from Middle French, from Late Latin carpa, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German karpfo carp

Combining form

French & New Latin, from Greek karp-, karpo-, from karpos — more at harvest

Noun combining form

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

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing carp

• Asian carp
• bighead carp
• black carp
• crucian carp
• grass carp
• silver carp

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Kids Definition

carp

1 of 2 verb

ˈkärp 

: to find fault : complain

carper noun

carp

2 of 2 noun

plural carp or carps

: a large Asian freshwater fish often raised for food and widely introduced into U.S. waters

also : any of various related or similar fishes