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

"You have no idea the dragon you have awakened," he said.

From BBC

“Animals sold in pet stores come from cruel mills where thousands of animals from bearded dragons to parrots are crammed into cages and tanks,” said Liz Cabrera Holtz, the organization’s senior program manager.

From Los Angeles Times

But beyond the promise of "the elephant and the dragon" coming together, the two countries still have major roadblocks to clear before they are able to engage meaningfully.

From BBC

They run alongside raised banks of red earth, deep trenches and neat lines of anti-tank dragon's teeth concrete pyramids.

From BBC

The dragon, of course, hasn’t been slayed yet.

From Los Angeles Times