Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Callinectes sapidus

Callinectes sapidus

9.1
A blue crab eaten for its meat and found on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America
  • noun
  • /ˌkælɪˈnɛktiz ˈsæpɪdəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Callinectes sapidus
  • During the summer, many people enjoy catching Callinectes sapidus for a delicious seafood feast.
  • blue Callinectes sapidus
  • Callinectes sapidus crab

Examples

  • The incidental catch of diamondback terrapins, Malaclemys terrapin, in blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, traps has become an issue along both the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The chef prepared a fragrant pasta dish featuring Callinectes sapidus and fresh herbs.

  • PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): Figure 89. The blue crab, Callinectes sapidus.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Known for its sweet and tender meat, Callinectes sapidus is a favorite among seafood lovers.

Synonyms

blue crab
vsCallinectes sapidus
  • US
2 3.4

A bluish crab that lives on North America's Atlantic and Gulf coasts and is eaten for its sweet meat

is prized for meat generally rather than described specifically as sweet

Surface Forms

Callinectes sapidus singular
Callinectes sapidus plural

Morphology

Callinectes + sapidus

This is a Latin binomial (scientific) name: its parts are taxonomic/Latin elements rather than ordinary English words, and the second element 'sapidus' is not a familiar English lemma. A B1 learner who knows the listed constituents would not be able to derive 'bluish edible crab' from these roots, so the meaning is not transparently compositional.

Etymology

Callinectes sapidus comes from Greek and Latin words: Callinectes means 'beautiful swimmer' and sapidus means 'tasty'. That's why the name fits the blue crab we eat today, a crab that swims well and is prized for its meat.