crocodile
Americannoun
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crocodiles
plural
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any of several crocodilians of the genus Crocodylus, found in sluggish waters and swamps of the tropics.
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any reptile of the order Crocodylia; crocodilian.
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the tanned skin or hide of these animals, used in the manufacture of luggage and accessories, as belts, shoes, and wallets.
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Chiefly British. a file of people, especially schoolchildren, out for a walk.
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Archaic. a person who makes a hypocritical show of sorrow.
noun
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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
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any other reptile of the order Crocodilia; a crocodilian
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leather made from the skin of any of these animals
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( as modifier )
crocodile shoes
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informal a line of people, esp schoolchildren, walking two by two
Usage
What’s the difference between crocodiles and alligators? Crocodiles and alligators are both large, lizardlike reptiles known for their large, powerful jaws and sharp teeth, their long tails, and their thick, plated skin. However, you can tell them apart through some physical differences. Crocodiles are often lighter in color and have a narrower snout. Alligators are typically darker and have broader snout. When they’re in the water, crocodiles typically hold the top of their head out of the water. In contrast, alligators typically lurk under the surface, with only their eyes visible. When alligators’ jaws are closed, only their upper teeth are visible, but both the upper and lower teeth of crocodiles are visible when their jaws are closed. Crocodiles live in tropical areas of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Australia. Alligators mainly live in the southeastern U. S. and eastern China. The only place that wild alligators and crocodiles have been documented as inhabiting the same area is in south Florida. Taxonomically speaking, crocodiles and alligators are not only different species, they also belong to a different genus (crocodiles belong to the genus Crocodylus, while alligators belong to the genus Alligator). Still, they both belong to the order Crocodylia, which means they can both be called crocodilians. Here’s an example of crocodile and alligator used correctly in a sentence. Example: Florida is known for its population of alligators, although a few crocodiles also live in the extreme south. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between crocodiles and alligators.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of crocodile
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
Explanation
A crocodile is an enormous reptile that has a long mouth lined with sharp teeth. Crocodiles live in and out of the water, preying on fish, birds, lizards, and mammals, snapping them between their powerful jaws. Although crocodiles and alligators are related, they're from separate biological families and look slightly different from each other. Crocodiles have narrower heads and more pointed snouts — and even when their mouths are closed, you can still see all 80 of their teeth. They're carnivores that feed on everything from molluscs to large mammals, including buffalo, deer, and wildebeest. Crocodile has a Greek root, krokódilos, or "lizard."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Crocs is the latest to join a parade of new brand characters with Niles, a 6-foot crocodile.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Crocs on Thursday is introducing a new member of its marketing team: a smiling, 6-foot crocodile mascot named Niles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Although it was neither a dinosaur nor a crocodile, it belonged to a lineage closely related to the forms that preceded the origin of these groups.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 10, 2026
The boy was attacked by at least one crocodile at Johnsons of Old Hurst near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on 18 June.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
Sure enough, the crocodile emerged from the water and demanded to know who had eaten all his food.
From "Hello, Universe" by Erin Entrada Kelly
In Zambia’s Kafue National Park, Ila Safari Lodge, owned by Green Safaris, has its own solar-powered boat, which is used for expeditions in search of hippo pods and Nile crocodiles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
Although it resembled an enormous alligator, it belonged to an ancient lineage of crocodilians, the broader group that includes modern crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gharials.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 5, 2026
About 210 million years ago, two early relatives of modern crocodiles stood near each other among the low ferns of a humid riverbank in what is now northern New Mexico.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 30, 2026
Like tap dancing atop crocodiles, cold-water swimming is unlikely ever to become a mainstream pursuit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
Women had to draw drinking water straight from the river, while they clucked their tongues and told stories of women fallen to crocodiles in other dry years, which were never as dry as this one.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
