CultureAugust 9, 2026

crablike

KRAB-lyke

Definition

Having physical characteristics, movements, or a shape that resembles those of a crab.

Etymology

Derived from the Old English 'crabba' (meaning crab) combined with the suffix '-like' (meaning similar to). It has been used in English since the mid-19th century to describe creatures or objects mimicking the anatomy of a crustacean.

In the news

In the context of the article's discussion on alien life, the term describes the biological morphology of an extraterrestrial creature, illustrating the author's attention to speculative evolutionary traits.

‘Project Hail Mary’ as Hard Science Fiction: How the Recent Hit (and the Book It’s Based On) Follows a Venerable Science Fiction Tradition

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High On Films

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