crabeater: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Scientific/Zoological
Quick answer
What does “crabeater” mean?
An animal, specifically a seal, that primarily eats krill.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An animal, specifically a seal, that primarily eats krill.
A person who consumes crabs, especially in a seafood context; also a specific species of Antarctic seal (Lobodon carcinophagus).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical; the term is specialist in both dialects.
Connotations
Technical/zoological term with no significant cultural difference in connotation.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “crabeater” in a Sentence
the crabeater seala crabeaterVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crabeater” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- No standard verb form.
American English
- No standard verb form.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverb form.
American English
- No standard adverb form.
adjective
British English
- The crabeater seal population is thriving.
- It was a crabeater specimen.
American English
- The crabeater seal colony was massive.
- We studied crabeater behaviour.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in marine biology, zoology, and Antarctic ecology papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in general conversation.
Technical
Standard term for the specific seal species in zoological texts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crabeater”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crabeater”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crabeater”
- Assuming the seal eats crabs (it eats krill).
- Using in general conversation where 'seal' would suffice.
- Misspelling as 'crab eater' (should be one word or hyphenated in some older texts).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, despite its name, the crabeater seal's diet consists almost exclusively of Antarctic krill.
No, it is a low-frequency, specialised term used primarily in zoological and Antarctic research contexts.
It can informally refer to a person who eats crabs, but this usage is very rare and not standard.
Lobodon carcinophagus.
An animal, specifically a seal, that primarily eats krill.
Crabeater is usually technical/scientific/zoological in register.
Crabeater: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkræbˌiːtə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkræbˌiːtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Crabeater: Think 'eats crabs' but remember, this seal mostly eats krill! The name is a misnomer.
Conceptual Metaphor
NAME AS MISNOMER (the term describes something incorrectly, highlighting that names can be misleading).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary diet of the crabeater seal?