noun
crayfish
KRAY-fihsh
Crayfish (noun) means a small, freshwater crustacean resembling a miniature lobster, often eaten as food or kept in aquariums. Example: “They caught crayfish in the creek with a simple net.”
noun
1
A small, freshwater crustacean resembling a miniature lobster, often eaten as food or kept in aquariums.
"They caught crayfish in the creek with a simple net."
"The restaurant served crayfish tails in a spicy sauce."
2
In some regions, a marine spiny lobster.
"South African "crayfish" on menus usually refers to a type of rock lobster."
How to use crayfish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small lobster-like freshwater animal (or, regionally, a spiny sea lobster).
UK vs US
Called "crawdad" or "crawfish" in parts of the southern United States; "crayfish" is standard in the UK and Australia.
Easily confused with
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like crayfish.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- crayfishes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They caught _____ in the creek with a simple net.
Etymology
From Old French crevice, reshaped in English under the influence of the word "fish" — it has no real connection to fish at all.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for crayfish
See all rhymes for crayfish →Frequently asked questions
What does “crayfish” mean?
The word “crayfish” means a small, freshwater crustacean resembling a miniature lobster, often eaten as food or kept in aquariums. In plain terms, a small lobster-like freshwater animal (or, regionally, a spiny sea lobster).
How do you pronounce “crayfish”?
“Crayfish” is pronounced KRAY-fihsh (/ˈkɹeɪˌfɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “crayfish” in a sentence?
Here is “crayfish” used in a sentence: “They caught crayfish in the creek with a simple net.”
What is another word for “crayfish”?
Words with a similar meaning to “crayfish” include crawdad, crawldad, crawfish, crawlfish, mudbug and yabby.
What part of speech is “crayfish”?
“Crayfish” is a noun.
Where does the word “crayfish” come from?
The word “crayfish” comes from Old French. From Old French crevice, reshaped in English under the influence of the word "fish" — it has no real connection to fish at all.
How many meanings does “crayfish” have?
“Crayfish” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, freshwater crustacean resembling a miniature lobster, often eaten as food or kept in aquariums.
