noun
Uncommon
lobster
LOB-stuh
Lobster (noun) means a large marine crustacean with a hard shell and large front claws, turning red when cooked and prized as seafood. Example: “We ordered grilled lobster with melted butter for dinner.”
noun
1
A large marine crustacean with a hard shell and large front claws, turning red when cooked and prized as seafood.
"We ordered grilled lobster with melted butter for dinner."
"Maine is famous for its lobster fishing industry."
"The fisherman pulled a heavy lobster from the pot and measured it carefully."
adj
1
Bright red in colour, especially from sunburn.
"After a day at the beach, his shoulders had gone lobster red."
"He forgot his sun cream and turned lobster by the afternoon."
"Her nose was lobster pink after an hour on the deck."
How to use lobster
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA prized shellfish with claws, or informally, sunburnt skin the same shade of red.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
lobster tail
boiled lobster
burnt lobster red
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Word forms
- Plural
- lobsters
- Third person singular
- lobsters
- Past tense
- lobstered
- Comparative
- more lobster
- Superlative
- most lobster
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We ordered grilled _____ with melted butter for dinner.
Etymology
From Old English loppestre, possibly a corruption of Latin locusta ("grasshopper" or a shrimp-like crustacean).
Synonyms
View more →
crustacean
sea locust
Related words
Rhymes for lobster
See all rhymes for lobster →Frequently asked questions
What does “lobster” mean?
The word “lobster” means a large marine crustacean with a hard shell and large front claws, turning red when cooked and prized as seafood. In plain terms, a prized shellfish with claws, or informally, sunburnt skin the same shade of red.
How do you pronounce “lobster”?
“Lobster” is pronounced LOB-stuh (/ˈlɑb.stɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “lobster” in a sentence?
Here is “lobster” used in a sentence: “We ordered grilled lobster with melted butter for dinner.”
What is another word for “lobster”?
Words with a similar meaning to “lobster” include sea locust.
What part of speech is “lobster”?
Depending on how it is used, “lobster” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “lobster” come from?
The word “lobster” comes from Latin. From Old English loppestre, possibly a corruption of Latin locusta ("grasshopper" or a shrimp-like crustacean).
Is “lobster” a common word?
“Lobster” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “lobster” have?
“Lobster” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large marine crustacean with a hard shell and large front claws, turning red when cooked and prized as seafood.
Why does lobster turn red when cooked?
A lobster's shell contains a pigment that is normally masked by other proteins while the animal is alive, and cooking breaks down those proteins, revealing the red colour that gives cooked lobster its familiar bright red appearance.
What is the difference between lobster and crab?
Both are marine crustaceans, but a lobster has a long body with large front claws, while a crab has a shorter, broader body and typically lacks the same elongated tail and claw structure. Lobster is also generally considered a more prized seafood item.
Why is lobster used to describe sunburn?
As an adjective, lobster describes a bright red colour, and it is used informally to describe skin that has turned that same bright red shade from sunburn, drawing a direct comparison to a cooked lobster's shell.
