dragon

[drag-uhn]

noun

1. a mythical monster generally represented as a huge, winged reptile with crested head and enormous claws and teeth, and often spouting fire.

2. Archaic.,  a huge serpent or snake.

3. Bible.,  a large animal, possibly a large snake or crocodile.

4. the dragon, Satan.

5. a fierce, violent person.

6. a very watchful and strict woman; duenna.

7. flying dragon.

8. 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.

9. a short musket carried by a mounted infantryman in the 16th and 17th centuries.

10. a soldier armed with such a musket.

11. Astronomy.,  Dragon, the constellation Draco.

dragon

/ ˈdræɡən /

noun

1. a mythical monster usually represented as breathing fire and having a scaly reptilian body, wings, claws, and a long tail

2. informal,  a fierce or intractable person, esp a woman

3. any of various very large lizards, esp the Komodo dragon

4. any of various North American aroid plants, esp the green dragon

5. Christianity a manifestation of Satan or an attendant devil

6. a yacht of the International Dragon Class, 8.88m long (29.2 feet), used in racing

7. slang,  to smoke opium or heroin

Other Word Forms

• dragonish adjective
• dragonlike adjective
• dragoness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dragon¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of dragon¹

C13: from Old French, from Latin dracō, from Greek drakōn; related to drakos eye

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. chase the dragon, to inhale the vapor of heated heroin or another opiate drug.

Example Sentences

Kan teased that she was selling her home for “very cheap” before welcoming viewers into the unique pad, which comes complete with its own secret garden and ceilings adorned with gold dragons.

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The animal reminds me of a dragon, with a horse’s head and a neck that is forty feet long.

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In the original "Dragon Ball" manga, a boy named Son Goku collects magical balls containing dragons to help protect the Earth.

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Wearing a red silk top emblazoned with dragons, Zhuang said he is happy to spend money on a new experience.

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Later in her career, she was, all too often, called upon to play "dragons" and "old bags" when she hankered after more glamorous roles.

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