crocodile
Americannoun
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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:
Here’s what can’t be denied: The Sunshine State’s reputation as the nation’s dangle, Heaven’s lobby, and a land of swamp creatures and crocodile wrestlers and Disneyworld and Mar-A-Lago and, somehow, Miami.
From Salon ● Jul. 1, 2026
The family of a three-year-old boy who was seriously injured after ending up in a crocodile enclosure have thanked zoo staff for rescuing their child.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
The crocodile was also captured during the operation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
“The crocodile had him by the thigh, and he would turn, and the size of this crocodile, I mean, his head was as long as my torso, his tail thicker than my legs,” Yetter said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
Should Naima paint a crocodile slinking through lily pads?
From "Rickshaw Girl" by Mitali Perkins
Other fossils found in the same formation include elephants and crocodiles, animals that are no longer native to Japan.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 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
Police said the crocodiles had not been seized or killed.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
Visitors can see Nile crocodiles, broad-snouted caiman and American alligators, which are kept in a converted barn with metal-fenced, elevated walkways.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
Shadow looked around for the crocodiles, but could not see them.
From "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman
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.
