Definition of shrimp

• v. t. - To contract; to shrink.
• v. - Any one of numerous species of macruran Crustacea belonging to Crangon and various allied genera, having a slender body and long legs. Many of them are used as food. The larger kinds are called also prawns. See Illust. of Decapoda.
• v. - In a more general sense, any species of the macruran tribe Caridea, or any species of the order Schizopoda, having a similar form.
• v. - In a loose sense, any small crustacean, including some amphipods and even certain entomostracans; as, the fairy shrimp, and brine shrimp. See under Fairy, and Brine.
• v. - Figuratively, a little wrinkled man; a dwarf; -- in contempt.