crustacean

noun

crus·​ta·​cean ˌkrə-ˈstā-shən 

: any of a large class (Crustacea) of mostly aquatic mandibulate 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, shrimp, crabs, wood lice, water fleas, and barnacles

crustacean adjective

Examples of crustacean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Standing about 30 inches tall, with a striking black-and-white appearance, the great auk was an expert swimmer and diver, primarily hunting for fish, crustaceans and other marine creatures. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025

Due to having two consecutive seasons, the crustacean is available basically year-round, starting with brown shrimp from midspring through the summer and then white in the fall and winter. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 24 Mar. 2025

During spring bloom, an upsurge in photosynthesizing algae and other microbes kick-starts the Arctic ecosystem, fueling a yearly revel, with tiny crustaceans, fish, seals, birds, polar bears, whales, and more. —Asher Elbein, WIRED, 2 Mar. 2025

Krill oil is a fish oil alternative made from tiny shrimp-like crustaceans, a dietary staple for Antarctic wildlife such as whales and birds. —Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for crustacean

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

Kids Definition

crustacean

noun

crus·​ta·​cean ˌkrəs-ˈtā-shən 

: any of a large class of mostly water-dwelling arthropods (as lobsters, shrimps, crabs, wood lice, water fleas, and barnacles) having an exoskeleton of chitin or chitin and a compound of calcium

crustacean adjective