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crustacean

 - 3 dictionary results

crus⋅ta⋅cean

[kruh-stey-shuhn]
–noun
1. any chiefly aquatic arthropod of the class Crustacea, typically having the body covered with a hard shell or crust, including the lobsters, shrimps, crabs, barnacles, and wood lice.
–adjective
2. belonging or pertaining to the crustaceans.

Origin:
1825–35; < NL Crustace(a) (neut. pl.) hard-shelled ones (see crust, -acea ) + -an
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To crustacean
crus·ta·cean   (krŭ-stā'shən)   
n.  Any of various predominantly aquatic arthropods of the class Crustacea, including lobsters, crabs, shrimps, and barnacles, characteristically having a segmented body, a chitinous exoskeleton, and paired, jointed limbs.
adj.  Of or belonging to the Crustacea.

[From New Latin Crūstācea, class name, neuter pl. of crūstāceus, hard-shelled, from Latin crūsta, shell; see kreus- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Science Dictionary
crustacean   (krŭ-stā'shən)  Pronunciation Key 
Any of various widespread arthropods of the class Crustacea that live mostly in water and have a hard shell, a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Crustaceans include crabs, lobsters, shrimp, barnacles, and copepods.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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