to contract; to shrink.-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.-in a more general sense, any species of the macruran tribe caridea, or any species of the order schizopoda, having a similar form.-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.-figuratively, a little wrinkled man; a dwarf; -- in contempt.