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noun

der Krebs, -e

crab

Eine schwere Krankheit, bei der manche Zellen im Körper krankhaft wachsen und gesundes Gewebe schädigen.

Definition & meaning

The German word Krebs has three primary meanings:

  1. Biology (Crustacean): It refers to a crab or crayfish, a crustacean that lives in water and has a hard shell and claws.
  2. Medicine (Cancer): It refers to the disease cancer. The term is derived from the way tumors can spread through the body with vein-like extensions, resembling the legs of a crab.
  3. Astronomy (Zodiac): It refers to the astrological sign of Cancer (the Crab).

Grammar & Word origin

  • Grammar: It is a masculine noun (der Krebs). The plural form is "die Krebse".
  • Origin: The word comes from the Old High German word "krebiz," which shares the same root as the English word "crab." In a medical context, it is a translation of the Greek term "karkinos," which was used by Hippocrates to describe the appearance of a malignant tumor.

Synonyms & antonyms

For the biological meaning (crustacean):

  • Synonyms: Flusskrebs, Krabbe (though krabbe is specifically a shrimp/prawn in some regions, it is often used interchangeably in general language).

For the medical meaning (cancer):

  • Synonyms: Karzinom, Bösartige Neubildung, Geschwulst.
  • Antonyms: Gutartig (referring to a benign tumor or health), Gesundheit.

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Examples

Der Krebs wandert langsam am Strand entlang.noun

The crab slowly walks along the beach.

Viele Krebse versteckten sich gestern unter den Steinen.noun

Many crabs hid under the stones yesterday.

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