crustacea

plural noun

crus·​ta·​cea ˌkrə-ˈstā-sh(ē-)ə 

: arthropods that are crustaceans

Examples of crustacea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s primitive pleasure in devouring a complete crustacea, exoskeleton and all. —Matt Wake | [e-mail], al, 18 Aug. 2021

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, group name, from neuter plural of crustaceus

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

crustacea

plural noun

crus·​ta·​cea ˌkrəs-ˈtā-sh(ē-)ə 

: arthropods that are crustaceans

Medical Definition

crustacea

noun plural

crus·​ta·​cea ˌkrəs-ˈtā-sh(ē-)ə 

1

capitalized : a large class of mostly aquatic arthropods that have a chitinous or calcareous and chitinous exoskeleton, a pair of often much modified appendages on each segment, and two pairs of antennae and that include the lobsters, shrimps, crabs, wood lice, water fleas, and barnacles

2

: arthropods of the class Crustacea

crustacean

-shən 

adjective or noun