crocodilian

[ krok-uh-dil-ee-uhn ]

noun

any reptile of the order Crocodylia, comprising the true crocodiles and the alligators, caimans, and gavials.

adjective

of, like, or pertaining to a crocodile.
hypocritical; insincere.

Origin of crocodilian

crocodile + -ian;defs. 1, 2 were first recorded in 1835–40 anddef. 3 in 1625–35

Words Nearby crocodilian

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

How to use crocodilian in a sentence

In crocodilians, the respiratory tract is “not as developed” as in birds, Woodruff says, and the respiratory tissue doesn’t pervade the bones.
Even dinosaurs couldn’t escape the sniffles | Kate Baggaley | February 11, 2022 | Popular-Science
The flying reptiles’ family tree is full of gastric pellet–expelling species, from living birds such as owls and gulls to fossilized cousins like ancient crocodilians and non-avian dinosaurs.
Fossils reveal that pterosaurs puked pellets | Carolyn Gramling | February 8, 2022 | Science News
It was not simply another great crocodilian shape that sat upon that dais.
Astounding Stories, April, 1931 | Various
The three men stood silent and tense as the two crocodilian monsters stopped before them.
Astounding Stories, April, 1931 | Various
At the hall's center was a low dias, and in a semicircle around and behind it stood a half-hundred great crocodilian shapes.
Astounding Stories, April, 1931 | Various

But as the Martian Master's high call hissed again all the countless crocodilian forms in the great cone were rushing toward them.
Astounding Stories, April, 1931 | Various
The big crocodilian shape was apparently a prisoner like themselves, captured and brought down from above.
Astounding Stories, April, 1931 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for crocodilian

crocodilian

/ (ˌkrɒkəˈdɪlɪən) /

noun

any large predatory reptile of the order Crocodilia, which includes the crocodiles, alligators, and caymans. They live in or near water and have a long broad snout, powerful jaws, a four-chambered heart, and socketed teeth

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to the Crocodilia
of, relating to, or resembling a crocodile

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

Scientific definitions for crocodilian

crocodilian

[ krŏk′ə-dĭl′ē-ən ]

Any of various semiaquatic reptiles of the order Crocodilia, including the alligators, crocodiles, caimans, and gavials. Crocodilians are squat, massive, and lizardlike, with long, powerful jaws, long, heavy tails, short legs, and thick, plated skin. Like dinosaurs, crocodilians are archosaurs, and their closest modern relatives are the birds.

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