dragon
Americannoun
-
dragons
plural
-
a mythical monster generally represented as a huge, winged reptile with crested head and enormous claws and teeth, and often spouting fire.
-
Archaic. a huge serpent or snake.
-
Bible. a large animal, possibly a large snake or crocodile.
-
the dragon, Satan.
-
a fierce, violent person.
-
a very watchful and strict woman; duenna.
-
Botany. any of several araceous plants, as Arisaema dracontium green dragon, or dragonroot, the flowers of which have a long, slender spadix and a green, shorter spathe.
-
a short musket carried by a mounted infantryman in the 16th and 17th centuries.
-
a soldier armed with such a musket.
-
Astronomy. Dragon, the constellation Draco.
idioms
noun
-
a mythical monster usually represented as breathing fire and having a scaly reptilian body, wings, claws, and a long tail
-
informal a fierce or intractable person, esp a woman
-
any of various very large lizards, esp the Komodo dragon
-
any of various North American aroid plants, esp the green dragon
-
Christianity a manifestation of Satan or an attendant devil
-
a yacht of the International Dragon Class, 8.88m long (29.2 feet), used in racing
-
slang to smoke opium or heroin
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of dragon
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin dracōn- (stem of dracō ), from Greek drákōn the name of a kind of serpent, probably originally an epithet, “the (sharp-)sighted one,” akin to dérkesthai “to look”
Explanation
A dragon is a fire-breathing mythological animal, a winged, flying, scaly creature. In many European legends, brave knights battle evil dragons. The dragon shows up in the mythologies of many different cultures, usually breathing fire and resembling a giant reptile or serpent with wings. The monster in the ancient Mesopotamian poem the "Epic of Gilgamesh" is often called a dragon, and the Old English story "Beowulf" also features a fearsome dragon. In several Asian cultures, dragons represent wisdom, nature, and longevity. The Greek root is drakon, "serpent" or "giant seafish."
Vocabulary lists containing dragon
Ancient Greece: Mythology and Literature - Middle School
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Ancient Greece: Mythology and Literature - Introductory
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Chinese History - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Murdoch appeared before the entrepreneurs accompanied by a large painting of a dragon - which he had created for the show.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
The species, Acanthosaura syrax, takes its name from Syrax, the dragon ridden by Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026
In one case a baby Komodo dragon was hidden in plain sight, inside a crate of ordinary monitor lizards.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
A mountaineer who nearly died in an avalanche has described how his recovery led him to amateur fossil hunting and the discovery of a marine reptile or "sea dragon" not found in Wales before.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Moving slowly, the dragon resumed its curled position.
From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville
In the fantasy series, Syrax is known for her striking yellow coloration, relatively small size compared with other dragons, and unusually high egg production.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026
No dragons, of course, but plenty of political conniving, clashing swords and last-minute escapes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
The slog of the dragons: Fool me once, shame on you.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026
While the Americans are favored to advance to the Round of 16, what’s certain is that the team known as the Zmajevi, or dragons, won’t make the game particularly fun for their hosts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
If there’s one creature I know about, it’s dragons.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
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.
