prawn
prawn
Prawn (noun) means a shrimp-like shellfish, often eaten as seafood. Example: “We ordered a plate of garlic prawns to share.”
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.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
prawn cocktail
grilled prawns
king prawn
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Word forms
- Plural
- prawns
- Third person singular
- prawns
- Past tense
- prawned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We ordered a plate of garlic _____ to share.
Etymology
First recorded in the 1400s in Middle English forms like "prayne" and "prane"; its deeper origin is unclear and disputed among etymologists.
Class of 1400
prawn joined the language around 1400.
See the full Class of 1400 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for prawn
See all rhymes for prawn →Frequently asked questions
What does “prawn” mean?
The word “prawn” means a shrimp-like shellfish, often eaten as seafood. In plain terms, a type of edible shellfish similar to a shrimp, often larger.
How do you pronounce “prawn”?
“Prawn” is pronounced prawn (/pɹɔn/ in IPA).
How do you use “prawn” in a sentence?
Here is “prawn” used in a sentence: “We ordered a plate of garlic prawns to share.”
What part of speech is “prawn”?
“Prawn” is a noun.
Where does the word “prawn” come from?
The word “prawn” dates back to around 1400 and comes from Middle English. First recorded in the 1400s in Middle English forms like "prayne" and "prane"; its deeper origin is unclear and disputed among etymologists.
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