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carp

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The definition of a carp is an edible freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae, or a nagging complaint.

(noun)

An example of a carp is the goldfish.
An example of a carp is a constant complaint about a tiny error.

Carp is defined as to find fault or nag unreasonably.

(verb)

An example of carp is to constantly complain about the color the neighbor chose to paint his house.

See carp in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. carp or carps

any of various often edible, freshwater cyprinoid fishes found all over the world, including the goldfish: a carp (Cyprinus carpio) is harvested for food in Europe and Asia

Origin: ME & OFr carpe < VL carpa < Goth *karpa

intransitive verb

to complain or find fault in a petty or nagging way

Origin: ME carpen < ON karpa, to brag; meaning infl. by L carpere, to pluck: see excerpt

Related Forms:

carper noun

fruit: endocarp

Origin: ModL < Gr karpos: see harvest

See carp in American Heritage Dictionary 4

intransitive verb carped, carp·ing, carps carps

To find fault in a disagreeable way; complain fretfully. See Synonyms at quibble.

noun

A fretful complaint.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English carpen

Origin: , from Old Norse karpa, to boast

Related Forms:

carpˈer noun

noun pl. carp carp or carps

An edible freshwater fish (Cyprinus carpio) of Europe and Asia that is frequently bred in ponds and lakes.
Any of various fishes of the family Cyprinidae.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English carpe

Origin: , from Old French carpe

Origin: , from Medieval Latin carpa

Origin: , of Germanic origin

suffix

Fruit; part of a fruit; fruitlike structure: mesocarp.

Origin:

Origin: New Latin -carpium

Origin: , from Greek -karpion

Origin: , from karpos, fruit; see kerp- in Indo-European roots

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