prawn

IPA/prɔːn/
KK[prˈɔn]IPA/prɔːn/

prawn — noun

  • prawnsingular
  • prawnsplural

1. a small animal from the sea, with a hard outer covering and ten legs, often cook

1.nounB2
Definition

a small animal from the sea, with a hard outer covering and ten legs, often cooked and eaten as seafood.

Example

Dad bought fresh prawns at Keelung Harbor before the family barbecue.

food use: buy / cook / eat prawns

The chef laid three giant prawns across Mei's bowl of noodles.

countable: three prawns

Common collocations
  • giant prawns
  • king prawn
  • peeled prawns
  • prawn curry
  • prawn cocktail
Synonyms
  • shrimp

    the closest everyday word; more common in American English

  • shellfish

    broader; includes many sea animals with shells, not only prawns

  • crustacean

    more scientific; includes crabs, lobsters, and similar animals

Grammar Patterns

a prawn

cook / eat prawns

Usage Note

Often countable for single animals, but the plural is very common when people talk about seafood on a plate or menu. In British English, prawn often overlaps with shrimp; in American English, shrimp is the more usual everyday word.

Common Mistakes

I bought three prawn for dinner.
I bought three prawns for dinner.
after a number, use the plural form.
Most Americans call these prawns in daily speech.
Most Americans call these shrimp in daily speech.
in American English, shrimp is the usual everyday term.

prawn — verb

Word family

  • prawner
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Prawn' and 'shrimp' are the closest pair, and in menus they often overlap. 'Shrimp' is the more usual everyday word in American English, while 'prawn' is especially common in British and some other varieties. 'Shellfish' is broader and can also include oysters, clams, and mussels, so it is not specific enough when you mean this animal. 'Crustacean' is scientific and covers crabs, lobsters, and many other related animals. 'Crayfish' is different again: it usually lives in fresh water and has a more lobster-like shape. You can order garlic prawns in a restaurant, buy shrimp at an American supermarket, and study crustaceans in a biology class.

prawn ↗shrimp ↗shellfish ↗crustacean ↗crayfish ↗

Etymology

Middle EnglishModern English

Recorded in English from the late Middle English period as 'prane'. Its deeper origin is uncertain, and dictionaries do not connect it clearly to one earlier source language. Over time the form settled as 'prawn', first as the name of the animal and later also as a verb for catching it.