gecko

American  

[gek-oh] / ˈgɛk oʊ /

noun

geckos, plural geckoes plural

1. any of numerous small, mostly nocturnal tropical lizards of the family Gekkonidae, usually having toe pads that can cling to smooth surfaces: the largest species, Gekko gecko, is sometimes kept as a pet.

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gecko British  

/ ˈɡɛkəʊ /

noun

1. any small insectivorous terrestrial lizard of the family Gekkonidae, of warm regions. The digits have adhesive pads, which enable these animals to climb on smooth surfaces

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Etymology

Origin of gecko

1705–15; < New Latin gekko < Dutch; origin uncertain; alleged to be a Malay word imitative of the lizard's call.

Explanation

A gecko is a small reptile with sticky feet that help it to climb smooth surfaces. In many warm parts of the world, geckos are commonly found on windows, doors, and ceilings. Most geckos are green, although these little reptiles come in nearly every color you can imagine, from brown to electric blue. Their skin is hairy, unlike the thick, rough scales of many lizards. In addition to their famously sticky feet, geckos are notable for their lack of eyelids (they lick their eyeballs to keep them moist), and "scored" tails that snap off easily in the clutches of a predator and grow back rapidly.

Example Sentences

Now, though, cryptocurrency-focused Winklevoss brothers are big investors, as is TWG Global, whose Gecko Robotics has holdings in oil and gas among other habitat-destroying industries.

From Salon • May 15, 2025

The interior spread has four panels on the left of the heroes in full weaponized action, and the right has four panels of the key villains Superfly, Mondo Gecko, Bebop and Rock Steady.

From Washington Times • Dec. 22, 2023

Other users on Reddit and Twitter also reported the issue with Rune Factory Oceans, Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition, Gex: Enter the Gecko, and for some, their entire digital library.

From The Verge • Apr. 10, 2022

Ranya Abdelsayed was less than 48 hours away from returning to the United States in 2013 when a colleague found her body in her bed at the agency’s Gecko Firebase in Kandahar.

From Washington Post • May 18, 2019

“No one knows what animals future years will be named after. I mean, the last reptilian year was the Year of the Gecko and that was before I was born.”

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman