crabmeat: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Culinary, General
Quick answer
What does “crabmeat” mean?
The edible flesh of a crab, harvested from its body and claws.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The edible flesh of a crab, harvested from its body and claws.
A food product or ingredient consisting of prepared crab flesh, which can be fresh, pasteurized, canned, or imitation/surimi.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. Both varieties use the compound. Minor regional preferences for types of crab (e.g., blue crab in US, brown crab in UK).
Connotations
Neutral culinary term. May imply luxury in inland areas, commonality in coastal regions.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in US English due to greater prominence of crab-based dishes like crab cakes and crab dips.
Grammar
How to Use “crabmeat” in a Sentence
[Verb] + crabmeat (e.g., pick, flake, add)crabmeat + [Noun] (e.g., salad, cake, dip)[Adjective] + crabmeat (e.g., fresh, lump, imitation)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crabmeat” in a Sentence
verb
British English
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American English
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adverb
British English
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American English
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adjective
British English
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American English
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Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in menus, food sourcing, and product descriptions within the hospitality and retail sectors.
Academic
Rare, except in specific contexts like marine biology, food science, or culinary studies.
Everyday
Common in cooking discussions, restaurant orders, and supermarket shopping.
Technical
Used in food labelling regulations (e.g., distinguishing between 'crabmeat' and 'imitation crabmeat').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crabmeat”
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'two crabmeats' – incorrect; 'two types of crabmeat' – correct).
- Misspelling as two words ('crab meat'). While sometimes seen, the closed compound 'crabmeat' is standard.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standardly written as one closed compound word: 'crabmeat'. The two-word form 'crab meat' is less common but sometimes seen.
Imitation crabmeat, also called surimi, is typically made from pulverised white fish (like pollock) that is flavoured, coloured, and textured to resemble crabmeat.
No, 'crabmeat' is an uncountable (mass) noun. You refer to 'some crabmeat', 'a lot of crabmeat', or 'two types of crabmeat'.
White crabmeat comes from the claws and body, is sweeter and more delicate. Brown meat comes from the main body shell, is richer, stronger in flavour, and often used in pastes or sauces.
The edible flesh of a crab, harvested from its body and claws.
Crabmeat is usually culinary, general in register.
Crabmeat: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkræbmiːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkræbˌmit/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
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Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the two parts: CRAB (the animal) + MEAT (the edible part). It's the meat from a crab.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOOD AS LUXURY / HARVEST (when referring to the labor-intensive process of picking the meat).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a typical description for the most prized part of crabmeat?