A class of Arthropoda; one of the prime divisions of articulated animals with articulated legs, as distinguished from Insecta, Myriapoda, and Arachnida respectively.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
noun plural.
One of the classes of the arthropods, including lobsters and crabs; -- so called from the crustlike shell with which they are covered.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
noun.
class of mandibulate arthropods including: lobsters; crabs; shrimps; woodlice; barnacles; decapods; water fleas
Word Usage
"Closely allied to the crustacea is the sub-family of the _mollusca_, which includes the oyster, clams, and similar creatures; also the snails, cuttle-fish, slugs, nautilus, sea-squirts, etc., etc."