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Homarus americanus

Homarus americanus

8.1
A large lobster that lives on the Atlantic coast of North America and people eat
  • noun
  • /hoʊˈmɑːrəs əˌmɛrɪˈkeɪnəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Homarus americanus
  • The Homarus americanus is commonly harvested along the coasts of Maine and Nova Scotia.
  • Homarus americanus lobster

Examples

  • Marine biologists are studying Homarus americanus to understand the impact of climate change on its habitat.

  • The Homarus americanus is a popular seafood choice in many New England restaurants.

  • Lobster rolls are often made from fresh Homarus americanus caught that same morning.

  • The chef prepared a delicious dish featuring Homarus americanus.

  • Many restaurants in Boston serve Homarus americanus with drawn butter.

  • Many fishermen depend on the harvest of Homarus americanus to support their livelihoods.

  • Chefs often praise the sweet and tender meat of Homarus americanus in their dishes.

Synonyms

lobster
vsHomarus americanus
157 1.0

A large sea animal with a hard shell and big claws that people eat

is the precise scientific name for one Atlantic species valued as seafood
Maine lobster
vsHomarus americanus
  • US
1 3.4

A large lobster with sweet, tender meat found off Maine's coast

is the scientific name rather than a regional harvest label
American lobster
vsHomarus americanus
  • US
3.7

A large sea animal with big claws that lives on North America's Atlantic coast

is the scientific name used for that specific seafood species
Northern lobster
vsHomarus americanus
  • US
3.2

A large edible lobster from the Atlantic coast of North America or its meat

is the species scientific name rather than a regional or product term

Surface Forms

Morphology

Homarus + americanus

The binomial is a straightforward composition of the genus Homarus (lobster) and the epithet americanus (indicating American), so the overall meaning — the American/Atlantic lobster species — is directly inferable from the parts. Although latinized, this species-naming pattern is cross-linguistically regular, so a learner who knows both constituents can understand the MWE.

Etymology

Homarus americanus comes from the two-word name scientists use: Homarus means 'lobster' and americanus means 'from America'. So the name simply tells you it is the lobster from North America, which is why it refers to the large Atlantic lobster often eaten as seafood.