chameleon

[ kuh-mee-lee-uh n, -meel-yuh n ]
/ kəˈmi li ən, -ˈmil yən /
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.

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Origin of chameleon

1300–50; variant of chamaeleon < Latin < Greek chamailéōn, equivalent to chamaí on the ground, dwarf (akin to humus) + léōn lion; 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/, adjectivecha·me·le·on·like, adjective

Words nearby chameleon

chambly, chambord, chambray, chambré, chambéry, chameleon, chametz, chamfer, chamfer bit, chamfron, chaminade

Definition for chameleon (2 of 2)

Chamaeleon
[ kuh-mee-lee-uh n, -meel-yuh n ]
/ kəˈmi li ən, -ˈmil yən /

noun, genitive Cha·mae·le·on·tis [kuh-mee-lee-on-tis] /kəˌmi liˈɒn tɪs/. Astronomy.

a small southern constellation between Musca and Hydrus.
Also Cha·me·le·on.

Origin of Chamaeleon

From Latin
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to chameleon

opportunist, timeserver, trimmer, pretender, charlatan, swindler, cardsharp, sycophant, phony, fake, backstabber

Example sentences from the Web for chameleon

British Dictionary definitions for chameleon (1 of 2)

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

Derived forms of chameleon

chameleonic (kəˌmiːlɪˈɒnɪk), adjectivechameleon-like, adjective

Word Origin for chameleon

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

British Dictionary definitions for chameleon (2 of 2)

Chamaeleon
/ (kəˈmiːlɪən) /

noun Latin genitive Chamaeleontis (kəˌmiːlɪˈɒntɪs)

a faint constellation lying between Volans and the South celestial pole
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