crocodile

[ krok-uh-dahyl ]
See synonyms for crocodile on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. any of several crocodilians of the genus Crocodylus, found in sluggish waters and swamps of the tropics.

  2. any reptile of the order Crocodylia; crocodilian.

  1. the tanned skin or hide of these animals, used in the manufacture of luggage and accessories, as belts, shoes, and wallets.

  2. Chiefly British. a file of people, especially schoolchildren, out for a walk.

  3. Archaic. a person who makes a hypocritical show of sorrow.

Origin of crocodile

1
1250–1300; <Latin crocodīlus<Greek krokódeilos crocodile, originally a kind of lizard, said to be equivalent to krók(ē) pebble + -o--o- + drîlos, dreîlos worm (though attested only in sense “penis”), with r lost by dissimilation replacing Middle English cocodrille<Medieval Latin cocodrilus

Other words from crocodile

  • croc·o·dil·oid [krok-uh-dil-oid, krok-uh-dahy-loid], /ˌkrɒk əˈdɪl ɔɪd, ˈkrɒk əˌdaɪ lɔɪd/, adjective

Words Nearby crocodile

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use crocodile in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for crocodile

crocodile

/ (ˈkrɒkəˌdaɪl) /


noun
  1. any large tropical reptile, such as C. niloticus (African crocodile), of the family Crocodylidae: order Crocodilia (crocodilians). They have a broad head, tapering snout, massive jaws, and a thick outer covering of bony plates

  2. any other reptile of the order Crocodilia; a crocodilian

    • leather made from the skin of any of these animals

    • (as modifier): crocodile shoes

  1. British informal a line of people, esp schoolchildren, walking two by two

Origin of crocodile

1
C13: via Old French, from Latin crocodīlus, from Greek krokodeilos lizard, ultimately from krokē pebble + drilos worm; referring to its fondness for basking on shingle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012