dragon

American  

[drag-uhn] / ˈdræg ən /

noun

• dragons
  plural

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.

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idioms

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

dragon British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• dragoness
  noun
• dragonish
  adjective
• dragonlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• dragons
  plural

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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”

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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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dragon dragons

A fully computer generated dragon is easier to believe than digital or prop wings tacked onto an actor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026

Nike’s Zoom Court Dragon, a basketball shoe with a dragon’s scale pattern released in 2022, was criticized for its $130 price tag and relying on the tired dragon motif to connect with Chinese customers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

The DJ, producer and founder of the longtime L.A. record label Stones Throw, who performs as Peanut Butter Wolf, was looking after his daughter’s bearded dragon, Sweet Pea, for the afternoon.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

"One of my favourites is a shirt with a castle on it. You open the door and there's a dragon inside."

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

One of them—the one with the blue-and-red dragon tattoo—leaned down to begin to roll the end of the rug.

From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry

I wanted to be on TV at a time when I also wanted to be able to ride dragons and be a king.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

The name blunder earlier this week was part of the Cheshire zoo's ticket promotion to allow visitors to go on a tour showcasing its Sumatran tigers, lions, rhinos and Komodo dragons.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

Another tourist, French painter Carol Odile, said she came with a group of friends, excited to see Komodo dragons in Flores, when she was notified that her flight was cancelled.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

Acanthosaura syrax belongs to a group of agamid lizards known as mountain horned dragons, which are distinguished by the spiny crests that extend along the neck and back.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026

“But what about dragons that wouldn’t attack someone? Do they get destroyed too?”

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

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