crab
1 of 5noun (1)
ˈkrab 
often attributive
1
plural crabs also crab : any of numerous chiefly marine broadly built decapod crustaceans:
a
: any of an infraorder (Brachyura) with a short broad usually flattened carapace, a small abdomen that curls forward beneath the body, short antennae, and the anterior pair of limbs modified as grasping pincers
b
: any of various crustaceans of an infraorder (Anomura) resembling true crabs in the more or less reduced condition of the abdomen
2
capitalized : cancer sense 1
3
crabs plural : infestation with crab lice
4
: the angular difference between an aircraft's course and the heading necessary to make that course in the presence of a crosswind
crab
2 of 5verb (1)
crabbed; crabbing
intransitive verb
1
: to fish for crabs
2
a(1)
: to move sideways indirectly or diagonally
(2)
: to crab an airplane
b
: to scuttle or scurry sideways
transitive verb
1
: to cause to move sideways or in an indirect or diagonal manner
specifically : to head (an airplane) into a crosswind to counteract drift
2
: to subject to crabbing
crab
3 of 5noun (2)
: crab apple
crab
4 of 5noun (3)
: an ill-tempered person : grouch
crab
5 of 5verb (2)
crabbed; crabbing
transitive verb
1
: to make sullen : sour
old age has crabbed his nature
2
: to complain about peevishly
3
: spoil, ruin
intransitive verb
: carp, grouse
always crabs about the weather
Synonyms
Noun (3)
- bear
- bellyacher
- complainer
- crank
- croaker
- crosspatch
- curmudgeon
- fusser
- griper
- grouch
- grouser
- growler
- grumbler
- grump
- murmurer
- mutterer
- sourpuss
- whiner
Verb (2)
- beef
- bellyache
- bitch
- bleat
- carp
- caterwaul
- complain
- 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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English crabbe, from Old English crabba; akin to Old High German krebiz crab and perhaps to Old English ceorfan to carve — more at carve
Noun (2)
Middle English crabbe, perhaps from crabbe crab entry 1
Verb (2)
Middle English crabben, probably back-formation from crabbed
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (1)
1657, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
1580, in the meaning defined above
Verb (2)
1662, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing crab
Kids Definition
crab 1 of 3
noun
ˈkrab
: a sea animal that is a crustacean related to the lobsters and has a short broad flat shell and a front pair of legs with small claws
crab
2 of 3noun
: a person who is usually grouchy
crab
3 of 3verb
crabbed; crabbing
: complain
Medical Definition
crab
noun
ˈkrab
1
: any of a tribe (Brachyura) of chiefly marine crustaceans with a short broad usually flattened carapace, a small abdomen that curls forward beneath the body, short antennae, and the anterior pair of limbs modified as grasping pincers
2
crabs plural : infestation with pubic lice
crab 1 of 2
noun
as in bear
an irritable and complaining person you're always such a crab in the morning! Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- bear
- mutterer
- hunks
- complainer
- crank
- croaker
- sourpuss
- curmudgeon
- grump
- growler
- grouser
- kicker
- crosspatch
- murmurer
- whiner
- griper
- fusser
- grumbler
- grouch
- grinch
- bellyacher
- party pooper
- killjoy
- sorehead
- spoilsport
- defeatist
- hypochondriac
- crock
- faultfinder
- nagger
- repiner
- pessimist
- nitpicker
- quibbler
- malcontent
- objector
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- optimist
- happy camper
- Pollyanna
crab
2 of 2verb
1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely their two-year-old whined and crabbed for the whole car trip Synonyms & Similar Words
- complain
- scream
- beef
- whine
- bitch
- carp
- kick
- moan
- grouse
- mutter
- growl
- grizzle
- worry
- grouch
- bellyache
- grump
- nag
- grumble
- squawk
- squeal
- cry
- keen
- repine
- murmur
- whimper
- yawp
- gripe
- caterwaul
- yaup
- kvetch
- holler
- kick up a stink
- wail
- yowl
- bleat
- protest
- croak
- inveigh
- yammer
- stew
- fuss
- kick up a fuss
- whinge
- maunder
- blubber
- sob
- cavil
- quarrel (with)
- quibble
- object (to)
- fret
- lament
- deplore
- bewail
- bemoan
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- bear
- delight
- rejoice
- crow
- take
- accept
- tolerate
- endure
- cheer
- countenance
- commend
- applaud
2
as in to damage
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of crabbed the blossoming romance by becoming moody and demanding Synonyms & Similar Words
- damage
- mar
- injure
- compromise
- hurt
- cripple
- bloody
- harm
- break
- weaken
- blemish
- spoil
- flaw
- batter
- destroy
- impair
- disfigure
- ruin
- wound
- erode
- deface
- endamage
- wash out
- wreck
- cross (up)
- undermine
- blight
- vitiate
- deteriorate
- ding
- queer
- scourge
- torture
- shatter
- smash
- demolish
- lame
- crush
- dent
- total
- tear down
- waste
- dint
- scour
- wipe out
- torment
- dash
- lacerate
- tarnish
- hamstring
- enfeeble
- enervate
- bang up
- maim
- wear (away)
- clobber
- bash
- botch
- mangle
- desolate
- decimate
- pulverize
- annihilate
- disable
- mutilate
- devastate
- gum (up)
- raze
- do in
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- patch
- repair
- rebuild
- cure
- fix
- remedy
- help
- reconstruct
- renovate
- heal
- mend
- rehabilitate
- revamp
- doctor
- rectify
- better
- perfect
- remodel
- improve
- edit
- recondition
- revise
- enhance
- ameliorate
- refine
- enrich
- meliorate