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Glite Dictionary
Cancer magister

Cancer magister

8.4
A large crab from the Pacific coast of North America that people eat
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : cangrejo Dungeness
  • The restaurant specializes in fresh Cancer magister dishes sourced from the Pacific coast.

Examples

  • Researchers are studying the habitat of the Cancer magister to ensure sustainable fishing.

  • The Cancer magister is a popular seafood choice on the West Coast.

  • Local fishermen caught several Cancer magister during their morning trip.

  • Many restaurants serve Cancer magisters during the summer season.

  • The restaurant specializes in fresh Cancer magister dishes sourced from the Pacific coast.

  • Local fishermen caught several Cancer magister during their morning trip.

  • The Cancer magister is a popular seafood choice on the West Coast.

Synonyms

Dungeness crab
vsCancer magister
  • US
1 5.1

A large edible crab that lives along the Pacific coast of North America

is the formal scientific name used in biology and taxonomy

Surface Forms

Cancer magister singular
Cancer magisters plural

Morphology

Cancer + magister

This is a Latin binomial (taxonomic) name rather than a compositional English phrase; knowing 'Cancer' as a crab genus and an unfamiliar element 'magister' does not let a B1 learner infer the common species meaning 'Dungeness crab'. The species identity is specialized biological knowledge and not predictable from the constituents, so the expression is opaque to general learners.

Etymology

Cancer magister comes from Latin words: Cancer meant 'crab' and magister meant 'master', so the name gives the image of a 'master crab', a large, important crab on the Pacific coast. That's why the Latin name refers to the edible animal we now call the 'Dungeness crab'.