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Glite Dictionary
decapod crustacean

decapod crustacean

1 6.8
An animal with ten legs like a crab or lobster that lives in water
  • noun
  • /ˈdɛkəˌpɒd krʌˈsteɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : decápodo
  • Decapod crustaceans (lobsters, crabs, shrimp) eat snails, as all naturalists know.

Examples

  • In the ocean, decapod crustaceans like shrimp play a vital role in the ecosystem as scavengers.

  • Lobsters and crabs are both types of decapod crustaceans that live in marine environments.

  • Many fishermen target decapod crustaceans for their economic value, especially during the seafood season.

Synonyms

decapod
vsdecapod crustacean
  • Specialized
1 8.3

A sea animal like a crab, lobster, or shrimp that has five pairs of walking legs

has identical meaning but uses a longer descriptive phrase rather than one word

Surface Forms

decapod crustacean singular
decapod crustaceans plural

Morphology

decapod + crustacean

This is a fully compositional technical noun phrase: 'decapod' specifies a type of crustacean with ten legs (five pairs), so combining it with 'crustacean' yields a literal meaning 'a crustacean with ten legs'. A B1 learner who knows the constituent meanings can therefore derive the MWE's meaning without prior exposure, making it transparent.

Etymology

Decapod crustacean comes from two parts: deca- meaning 'ten' and -pod meaning 'foot'. So the name pictures and now describes crustaceans with ten legs, like crabs, lobsters, and shrimp.