A crab is an animal that lives in the sea or near water. It has a hard shell and two big claws. Crabs walk sideways on the ground.
The crab walks on the sandy beach.
I saw a big crab in the water.
As a verb, 'crab' means to move sideways or at an angle. People or things can crab around places like a crab walks.
The player crabs to avoid the ball.
She crabbed sideways on the ice carefully.
A crab is a tool or device with a chain or cable used to lift or pull heavy things. It works like a small crane or winch.
The workers used a crab to lift the big box.
The crab pulls the heavy load up the hill.
In knitting or crochet, the crab stitch is a special stitch worked backward. It creates a firm, twisted edge on fabric or clothes.
Use the crab stitch to finish the edge well.
The crab stitch makes a neat border on the scarf.
This meaning calls someone a 'crab' when they are often angry, unhappy, or complain a lot. It is an informal way to say someone is grumpy.
Don't be such a crab today, smile more!
He is a crab and always complains about food.
In sports, 'to crab' can mean to cheat or block another player by moving sideways in a tricky or unfair way. This use is informal and less common.
He crabs to block other runners in races.
Cyclists sometimes crab to stop their opponents.
On ships, a crab is a machine that pulls or moves the anchor chain. It helps to raise or lower the anchor safely.
The ship used the crab to lift the anchor.
The crab helps with anchor chain movement.
