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chameleon

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

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

Nearby words

  1. chambly,
  2. chambord,
  3. chambray,
  4. chambré,
  5. chambéry,
  6. chametz,
  7. chamfer,
  8. chamfer bit,
  9. chamfered,
  10. chamfron

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

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for chameleon

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
Derived Formschameleonic (kəˌmiːlɪˈɒnɪk), adjectivechameleon-like, adjective

Word Origin for chameleon

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

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
Word Origin and History for chameleon

chameleon

n.

mid-14c., camelion, from Old French caméléon, from Latin chamaeleon, from Greek khamaileon "the chameleon," from khamai "on the ground" (also "dwarf"), akin to chthon "earth" (see chthonic) + leon "lion" (see lion). Perhaps the large head-crest on some species was thought to resemble a lion's mane. The classical -h- was restored in English early 18c. Figurative sense of "variable person" is 1580s. It formerly was supposed to live on air (cf. "Hamlet" III.ii.98).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper