crab
gb/kɹˈæb/ us/kɹˈæb/
A2
English
rák, tarisznyarák, rákhús, lapostetű, szeméremtetű, morgós alak, zsörtölődő ember, zsörtölődik, szekál, oldalazik, ráktartással halad, csörlő
NOUN
A2
1
rák
A2
tarisznyarák
B2
Usage pattern:
a crab; crabs
A crab scuttled under a rock when we got close.
Egy rák beszaladt egy kő alá, amikor közelebb mentünk.
The kids found a tiny crab in a tide pool.
A gyerekek egy apró rákot találtak egy dagály után visszamaradt pocsolyában.
Crabs use their claws to defend themselves.
Learner examples
I saw a crab on the beach.
Láttam egy rákot a tengerparton.
The crab has two claws.
A ráknak két ollója van.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use crab for other shellfish (e.g., lobster).
Meaning
sea animal with hard shell
Collocations
shore crab
|hermit crab
|crab shell
|crab claws
|a crab scuttles
|catch crabs
|crab habitat
|crab on the beach
|crab in the tide pool
|blue crab
Synonyms
crustacean (Broader category; not specific to crabs.)
Themes
animals
|nature
|seafood
Definition
a sea animal with a hard shell and claws
A sea animal with a broad body, a hard shell, and two large claws, typically moving sideways.
NOUN
A2
2
Usage pattern:
[some] crab; crab meat
We ordered crab cakes and a green salad.
Rákfasírtot és zöldsalátát rendeltünk.
This pasta is made with fresh crab and lemon.
Ez a tészta friss rákhússal és citrommal készül.
The restaurant is famous for its crab legs.
Learner examples
I ate crab for dinner.
Rákot ettem vacsorára.
This soup has crab in it.
Ebben a levesben rákhús van.
Common mistake:
Often used as an uncountable noun for the food (some crab), but countable when referring to animals (two crabs).
Meaning
crab meat as food
Collocations
crab meat
|fresh crab
|crab salad
|crab cakes
|crab legs
|soft-shell crab
|dressed crab
|pick crab
|crab sandwich
|lump crab
Synonyms
shellfish (Broader term for seafood with shells.)
Themes
food
|cooking
|restaurants
|seafood
Definition
crab used as food
The meat of a crab, eaten as food.
NOUN
C1
SLANG
3
lapostetű
C1
szeméremtetű
C2
Usage pattern:
have crabs
The clinic tested him for STIs and treated him for crabs.
A klinikán nemi úton terjedő fertőzésekre szűrték, és lapostetű-fertőzés miatt kezelték.
Crabs can be spread through close physical contact.
A lapostetvek szoros testi érintkezéssel terjedhetnek.
She read about how to treat crabs safely.
Common mistake:
Usually used in the plural (crabs), not *a crab*, for this meaning.
Meaning
pubic lice infestation
Collocations
have crabs
|get crabs
|treat crabs
|a case of crabs
|crabs infestation
Synonyms
pubic lice (Neutral/medical term.)
Themes
health
|body
|sex
|medical
Definition
pubic lice (a kind of parasite)
Pubic lice; small паразitic insects that live in coarse body hair, especially pubic hair.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
4
morgós alak
B2
Usage pattern:
be a crab; such a crab
Don't be such a crab—it's just a small delay.
Ne légy már ilyen morgós – csak egy kis késésről van szó.
He can be a bit of a crab in the mornings.
Reggelente kissé morgós tud lenni.
She called her brother a crab for criticizing everything.
Learner examples
He is a crab today.
Ma nagyon morgós.
Don't be a crab.
Ne légy morgós.
Common mistake:
More common in American English as a noun; many speakers prefer crabby (adjective) instead.
Meaning
bad-tempered complaining person
Collocations
such a crab
|a real crab
|stop being a crab
|he's a crab today
Synonyms
grouch (Very common informal word for a bad-tempered person.)
|
complainer (Focuses on complaining rather than mood.)
Antonyms
cheerleader (Opposite attitude: supportive and upbeat.)
Themes
people
|emotions
|relationships
Definition
a person who complains and is often angry
A person who is easily annoyed and complains a lot.
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
5
zsörtölődik
B2
szekál
B2
Usage pattern:
crab about [something]; crab at [someone]
He spent the whole drive crabbing about traffic.
Egész úton a forgalom miatt zsörtölődött.
Stop crabbing at your sister and help her.
Ne szekáld a húgodat, inkább segíts neki.
They kept crabbing that the room was too cold.
Learner examples
She is always crabbing about her job.
Mindig a munkája miatt zsörtölődik.
Please don't crab at me.
Kérlek, ne szekálj.
Common mistake:
Often used with about (crab about the service); it is less common without an object.
Meaning
complain or criticize repeatedly
Collocations
crab about the weather
|crab about the price
|crab about work
|crab at someone
|crab constantly
Synonyms
complain (Neutral and much more common.)
|
grumble (Suggests a low, continuous complaint.)
Antonyms
praise (Express approval instead of criticism.)
Themes
communication
|emotions
|work
Definition
to complain a lot
To complain a lot, or to criticize someone or something in an annoyed way.
VERB
B2
6
oldalazik
B2
Usage pattern:
crab across/along [place]
She crabbed along the narrow ledge to reach the ladder.
A keskeny párkányon oldalazott, hogy elérje a létrát.
The toddler crabbed sideways along the sofa.
A totyogó kisgyerek oldalazva haladt a kanapé mentén.
He crabbed across the stage to avoid blocking the view.
Learner examples
He crabbed to the left.
Balra oldalazott.
The child crabbed along the wall.
A gyerek a fal mentén oldalazott.
Common mistake:
Not the same as crawl; crab emphasizes sideways movement.
Meaning
move sideways like a crab
Collocations
crab across the sand
|crab along the wall
|crab sideways
|crab step
|crab to the left
Synonyms
sidestep (Usually deliberate steps to the side; not necessarily continuous sideways travel.)
Antonyms
advance (Move forward rather than sideways.)
Themes
movement
|sports
Definition
to move sideways
To move sideways rather than straight ahead, like a crab.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
7
Usage pattern:
crab into [the wind/current]
In a strong crosswind, the pilot crabbed into the wind on final approach.
Erős oldalszélben a pilóta végső megközelítéskor ráktartással, a szél felé fordított orral repült.
The boat crabbed into the current to hold its line.
A hajó ráktartással, az áramlás felé fordított orral haladt, hogy tartsa az irányát.
You can see the plane crabbing as it comes in to land.
Common mistake:
This is technical (aviation/nautical), not the same as 'complain'.
Meaning
move at an angle in wind
Collocations
crab into the wind
|crab angle
|crabbed approach
|crabbed landing
|crab into the current
Synonyms
yaw (Rotation around a vertical axis; related but not the same as maintaining a crab angle.)
Themes
travel
|aviation
|boats
|technical
Definition
to move forward while pointing into wind/current
To travel with the nose or bow pointed into the wind or current so that the actual path is at an angle to the direction faced.
NOUN
B2
8
Rák
A2
Usage pattern:
the Crab
In astrology, Cancer is sometimes called the Crab.
Az asztrológiában a Cancer jegyét néha Ráknak nevezik.
She said she was born under the sign of the Crab.
Azt mondta, hogy a Rák jegyében született.
The Crab is a faint constellation in the zodiac.
Learner examples
Cancer is called the Crab.
A Cancert Ráknak hívják.
He is a Cancer (the Crab).
Ő Rák jegyű.
Common mistake:
Capitalization matters: the Crab refers to Cancer; crab usually means the animal.
Meaning
the Cancer constellation
Collocations
the Crab constellation
|born under the Crab
|the sign of the Crab
Synonyms
Cancer (The standard name of the constellation and zodiac sign.)
Themes
astronomy
|astrology
|culture
Definition
Cancer (a zodiac sign/constellation)
The constellation Cancer, traditionally represented as a crab, and the zodiac sign connected with it.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
9
csörlő
B2
Usage pattern:
a crab; a hand crab
They used a small crab to haul the boat onto the trailer.
Egy kis csörlővel húzták fel a csónakot az utánfutóra.
The stage crew operated the crab to raise the scenery.
A színpadi személyzet a csörlőt kezelte, hogy felhúzza a díszletet.
A manual crab was mounted to the beam for lifting loads.
Common mistake:
Not common in everyday English; usually called a winch or hoist.
Meaning
hoisting device or winch
Collocations
hand crab
|crab winch
|use a crab to lift
|operate the crab
|crab and tackle
Synonyms
winch (More common modern term for the same type of device.)
Themes
tools
|construction
|technical
Definition
a machine for pulling or lifting with a rope
A device with gears and a drum used for winding a rope or cable to lift or pull heavy loads.
Grammar
Dictionary form
crab
IPA
GB/kɹˈæb/
US/kɹˈæb/
Syllables & stress
crab (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (crab)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: crab
- Plural: crab, crabs
Verb
- Base: crab
- 3rd Person Singular: crabs
- Present Participle: crabbing
- Past: crabbed
Word family
Forms
crabs
noun
crabbing
verb
crabbed
verb
Core family
crabby
adjective
Expressions
catch a crab
1/kˈæt͡ʃ ə kɹˈæb/
idiom
technical
make a rowing mistake
to make a bad stroke in rowing
Examples
- I caught a crab and nearly lost my grip on the oar.
- The boat slowed when the bow seat caught a crab.
- Try not to catch a crab when you square the blade.
crab about
1/kɹˈæb əbˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
informal
complain repeatedly about something
to complain about something
Examples
- He kept crabbing about the cost of parking.
- They always crab about the weather, whatever it is.
- Stop crabbing about it and do something.
Learner examples
- She crabs about her job a lot.
crab walk
1/kɹˈæb wˈɔk/
fixed phrase
walk on hands and feet
to walk like a crab (hands and feet)
Examples
- In gym class we had to crab walk across the floor.
- The coach added crab walks to our warm-up routine.
- He crab-walked backward to make the kids laugh.
Learner examples
- We did a crab walk in class.
crabs in a bucket
1/kɹˈæbz ˈɪn ə bˈʌkɪt/
idiom
informal
group that drags others down
when people stop each other from succeeding
Examples
- The team had a crabs-in-a-bucket mentality, criticizing anyone who did well.
- It's like crabs in a bucket—every time someone gets ahead, others pull them back.
- She left because the office felt like crabs in a bucket.
go crabbing
1/ɡˈoʊ kɹˈæbɪŋ/
fixed phrase
go out to catch crabs
to go out and catch crabs
Examples
- We went crabbing at the pier early in the morning.
- They go crabbing every summer and cook what they catch.
- If the tide is right, you can go crabbing along the rocks.
Learner examples
- We went crabbing yesterday.