chameleon

[ kuh-mee-lee-uhn, -meel-yuhn ]

See synonyms for chameleon on Thesaurus.com

noun

any of numerous Old World lizards of the family Chamaeleontidae, characterized by the ability to change the color of their skin, very slow locomotion, and a projectile tongue.
any of several American lizards capable of changing the color of the skin, especially Anolis carolinensis(American chameleon ), of the southeastern U.S.

a changeable, fickle, or inconstant person.
(initial capital letter)Astronomy. Chamaeleon.

Origin of chameleon

1300–50; variant of chamaeleon<Latin <Greek chamailéōn, equivalent to chamaí on the ground, dwarf (akin to humus) + léōnlion; replacing Middle English camelion<Middle French <Latin, as above

Other words from chameleon

cha·me·le·on·ic [kuh-mee-lee-on-ik], /kəˌmi liˈɒn ɪk/, adjective
cha·me·le·on·like, adjective

Words Nearby chameleon

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use chameleon in a sentence

“Sue (Or In a Season of Crime)” brings the rock chameleon into jazz territory, backed up by a horn-heavy jazz big band.
David Bowie Goes Big Band in New Music Video | Alex Chancey, The Daily Beast Video | November 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
You have to be an everyman and chameleon, so that every bit of you is involved in the end.
Martin Amis Talks About Nazis, Novels, and Cute Babies | Ronald K. Fried | October 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
While he could be a chameleon on the international stage, he was never a man of dialogue on the domestic front.
Venezuela Burns, Body Count Rises | Juan Nagel | March 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He is also a chameleon, he says, able to adapt his personality to appease any audience.
The Party Monster Lives For the Applause: Michael Alig’s Second Act | Caitlin Dickson | February 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
She is a real chameleon … in every look she comes out looking like a different person and that is gold in our business.
Lindsay Lohan’s Sister Sets Her Sights on Modeling | Misty White Sidell | May 8, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

That is a research which yields no statistics, an enquiry like asking what is the ruling colour of a chameleon.
The New Machiavelli | Herbert George Wells
Only a lizard scuttling over the dark-washed bedroom wall, first cousin to the chameleon you saw at Abu Simbel.
Round the Wonderful World | G. E. Mitton
I am unstable as water; incoherent, inconsistent, a very chameleon!
The Child of Pleasure | Gabriele D'Annunzio
From Forbess work we extract the following particulars respecting The chameleon.
The Book of Curiosities | I. Platts
If one has a chameleon's tongue, cut out before the creature's death, he may defy all the sharpers in the world.
The Mysteries of All Nations | James Grant

British Dictionary definitions for chameleon

chameleon

/ (kəˈmiːlɪən) /

noun

any lizard of the family Chamaeleontidae of Africa and Madagascar, having long slender legs, a prehensile tail and tongue, and the ability to change colour
a changeable or fickle person

Origin of chameleon

C14: from Latin chamaeleon, from Greek khamaileōn, from khamai on the ground + leōn lion

Derived forms of chameleon

chameleonic (kəˌmiːlɪˈɒnɪk), adjective
chameleon-like, adjective

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

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