WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
mal•a•cos•tra•can
(mal′ə kos′trə kən),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
- Invertebratesbelonging or pertaining to the crustacean subclass Malacostraca, which includes the lobsters, shrimps, crabs, etc.
n.
- Invertebratesa malacostracan crustacean.
- Greek, neuter plural of malakóstrakos soft-shelled, equivalent. to malak- malaco- + -ostrakos, adjective, adjectival derivative of óstrakon shell (of mollusks, etc.); compare ostracize) + -an
- Neo-Latin Malacostrac(a) order of crustacea (
- 1825–35
'malacostracan' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):