noun
prawn
prawn
noun
1
A shrimp-like shellfish, often eaten as seafood.
"We ordered a plate of garlic prawns to share."
"The prawns were grilled and served with a spicy dipping sauce."
How to Use Prawn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA type of edible shellfish similar to a shrimp, often larger.
UK vs US
British English generally says "prawn," while American English tends to say "shrimp" for the same or similar creature.
Common pairings
prawn cocktail
grilled prawns
king prawn
Word Forms
prawned past tense, prawn plural, prawns plural, prawns singular
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Etymology
First recorded in the 1400s in Middle English forms like "prayne" and "prane"; its deeper origin is unclear and disputed among etymologists.