How Do You Spell CRAB?

Pronunciation: [kɹˈab] (IPA)

The word "crab" is spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /kræb/. This phonetic transcription represents the sounds heard in the word. The first sound, /k/, is a voiceless velar stop, followed by the vowel sound /ræ/, which is a diphthong consisting of the open-mid front unrounded vowel and the near-open front unrounded vowel. Finally, the word ends with the voiced bilabial stop /b/. This transcription accurately reflects the pronunciation of the word and can be helpful in understanding the English language.

Meaning and Definition
Common Misspellings
Etymology
Idioms
Similar spelling words
Plural
Conjugate verb
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CRAB Meaning and Definition

  1. Crab is a noun that refers to a type of crustacean found in oceans, seas, and some freshwater habitats. It is commonly recognized for its ten-legged body structure and distinctive sideways scuttling movement. There are numerous species of crabs varying in size, color, and physical characteristics.

    Typically, crabs possess a hard exoskeleton that acts as a protective covering for their body. They have two pairs of specialized appendages at the front known as pincers or claws, which aid in capturing prey, self-defense, and locomotion. Additionally, crabs have five pairs of walking legs, each featuring sharp claws for gripping and maneuvering across different terrains.

    Crabs are omnivorous, consuming a wide range of food including algae, small fish, mollusks, worms, and even carrion. They play a vital ecological role by being both predator and prey in various food chains, contributing to the balance of marine ecosystems.

    These creatures are well-known and sought after in culinary traditions around the world. Their succulent and flavorful meat, found within their shells, is a delicacy enjoyed in numerous seafood dishes and culinary preparations.

    Crabs are also celebrated for their ability to regenerate lost limbs, with some species even capable of regrowing an entirely new claw within a few molts. They undergo a process called molting, shedding their old exoskeleton and forming a new one, which allows for growth and repair.

    In folklore and popular culture, crabs are often associated with traits such as adaptability, tenacity, and protection. They are symbolically depicted as creatures that move sideways, relating to adapting and finding alternate paths in difficult situations.

  2. • A well-known crustacean or shell-fish; one of the signs of the zodiac; a wild apple; a peevish morose person; an engine with three claws for launching ships.
    • A wooden apparatus something like a capstan, and used for similar purposes.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for CRAB

Etymology of CRAB

The word "crab" has a somewhat uncertain etymology. It is believed to have originated from several possible sources.

1. Old English: The word "crabba" in Old English referred to the crustacean. This is considered the most likely origin of the word.

2. Proto-Germanic: The word "krabbaz" in Proto-Germanic meant "to scratch" or "to claw". It is hypothesized that this word could also have influenced the term for the crustacean.

3. Celtic: Some scholars suggest a possible Celtic origin for the word. The Old Irish word "cráb" also referred to a crab.

4. West Germanic: Another theory suggests that the word could have derived from the West Germanic "krab-". This root is associated with a twisting or bending motion, which could be linked to the sideways movement of crabs.

Idioms with the word CRAB

  • crab mentality The idiom "crab mentality" refers to a negative mindset or behavior where individuals try to bring down or hinder the success of someone else, particularly when they see others progressing or achieving greater success than themselves. Similar to crabs in a bucket, where one crab tries to escape, other crabs will attempt to pull it back down, preventing it from succeeding. This idiom is often used to describe the jealousy, envy, or competitiveness that leads people to undermine or sabotage the success of others instead of celebrating and supporting them.
  • catch a crab The idiom "catch a crab" is a reference to rowing or crewing. It describes a situation where a rower's oar gets caught in the water, causing them to lose control and potentially disrupt the rhythm and balance of the boat. It can also refer more generally to any sudden and unexpected mishap or mistake that derails progress or causes failure in any endeavor.
  • the Crab
  • crab one's act (the deal, etc.)

Similar spelling words for CRAB

Plural form of CRAB is CRABS

Conjugate verb Crab

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have crabbed
you would have crabbed
he/she/it would have crabbed
we would have crabbed
they would have crabbed
I would have crab
you would have crab
he/she/it would have crab
we would have crab
they would have crab

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I would have been crabbing
you would have been crabbing
he/she/it would have been crabbing
we would have been crabbing
they would have been crabbing

CONDITIONAL PRESENT

I would crab
you would crab
he/she/it would crab
we would crab
they would crab

CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

I would be crabbing
you would be crabbing
he/she/it would be crabbing
we would be crabbing
they would be crabbing

FUTURE

I will crab
you will crab
he/she/it will crab
we will crab
they will crab

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be crabbing
you will be crabbing
he/she/it will be crabbing
we will be crabbing
they will be crabbing

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have crabbed
you will have crabbed
he/she/it will have crabbed
we will have crabbed
they will have crabbed

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been crabbing
you will have been crabbing
he/she/it will have been crabbing
we will have been crabbing
they will have been crabbing

IMPERATIVE

you crab
we let´s crab

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to crab

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was crabbing
you were crabbing
he/she/it was crabbing
we were crabbing
they were crabbing

PAST PARTICIPLE

crabbed

PAST PERFECT

I had crabbed
you had crabbed
he/she/it had crabbed
we had crabbed
they had crabbed

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been crabbing
you had been crabbing
he/she/it had been crabbing
we had been crabbing
they had been crabbing

PRESENT

I crab
you crab
he/she/it crabs
we crab
they crab

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am crabbing
you are crabbing
he/she/it is crabbing
we are crabbing
they are crabbing

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

crabbing

PRESENT PERFECT

I have crabbed
you have crabbed
he/she/it has crabbed
we have crabbed
they have crabbed

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been crabbing
you have been crabbing
he/she/it has been crabbing
we have been crabbing
they have been crabbing

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

he/she/it crab

SIMPLE PAST

I crabbed
you crabbed
he/she/it crabbed
we crabbed
they crabbed

Infographic

Correct spelling for crab
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