shrimp
shrihmp
Shrimp (noun) means a small, edible, long-tailed crustacean with slender legs. Example: “We grilled shrimp skewers for the barbecue.”
noun
1
A small, edible, long-tailed crustacean with slender legs.
"We grilled shrimp skewers for the barbecue."
"The chef tossed the shrimp in garlic butter and served them with rice."
"A small pan of shrimp turned pink as soon as it hit the heat."
2
A small or unimportant person (informal, often used as an insult).
"The older kids teased him for being a shrimp."
"Don't call your little brother a shrimp, he's just not grown yet."
"She hated being the shrimp of the class, always picked last for teams."
How to use shrimp
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small edible sea creature, or, informally, a small or unimpressive person.
UK vs US
In British English, "prawn" is often used where American English uses "shrimp," though the two terms overlap and aren't always biologically identical.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
shrimp cocktail
grilled shrimp
jumbo shrimp
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Word forms
- Plural
- shrimps
- Third person singular
- shrimps
- Past tense
- shrimped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We grilled _____ skewers for the barbecue.
Etymology
From Middle English schrimpe ("shrimp, puny person"), of Germanic origin related to words for "shrivel" or "shrink."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for shrimp
See all rhymes for shrimp →Frequently asked questions
What does “shrimp” mean?
The word “shrimp” means a small, edible, long-tailed crustacean with slender legs. In plain terms, a small edible sea creature, or, informally, a small or unimpressive person.
How do you pronounce “shrimp”?
“Shrimp” is pronounced shrihmp (/ʃɹɪmp/ in IPA).
How do you use “shrimp” in a sentence?
Here is “shrimp” used in a sentence: “We grilled shrimp skewers for the barbecue.”
What part of speech is “shrimp”?
“Shrimp” is a noun.
Where does the word “shrimp” come from?
The word “shrimp” comes from Middle English. From Middle English schrimpe ("shrimp, puny person"), of Germanic origin related to words for "shrivel" or "shrink.".
Is “shrimp” a common word?
“Shrimp” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “shrimp” have?
“Shrimp” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, edible, long-tailed crustacean with slender legs.
What is the difference between shrimp and prawns?
Both shrimp and prawns are small, edible, long-tailed crustaceans with slender legs, and the terms are often used interchangeably in everyday speech. Culinarily and regionally the words may be applied differently, but the dictionary sense of "shrimp" covers the same general kind of crustacean people call prawns.
Why is "shrimp" sometimes used as an insult?
"Shrimp" is used informally, often as an insult, to describe a small or unimportant person, drawing on the small size of the crustacean. This figurative use is casual and can be dismissive or mocking in tone.
Is "shrimp" both singular and plural the same word?
Yes, "shrimp" commonly stays the same in both singular and plural use, as in "one shrimp" and "a plate of shrimp," though "shrimps" also appears in some contexts.
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