iguana

[ ih-gwah-nuh ]

noun

1. a large, arboreal lizard, Iguana iguana, native to Central and South America, having stout legs and a crest of spines from neck to tail.
2. any of various related lizards of the genera Iguana, Ctenosaura, Conolophus, and Amblyrhynchus.

iguana

/ ɪˈɡwɑːnə /

noun

1. either of two large tropical American arboreal herbivorous lizards of the genus Iguana, esp I. iguana ( common iguana ), having a greyish-green body with a row of spines along the back: family Iguanidae
2. Also callediguanidɪˈɡwɑːnɪd any other lizard of the tropical American family Iguanidae
3. See leguaan
   another name for leguaan

Derived Forms

• iˈguanian, nounadjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of iguana¹

1545–55; < Spanish < Arawak iwana

Word History and Origins

Origin of iguana¹

C16: from Spanish, from Arawak iwana

Example Sentences

Other such animals found in recent years include exotic monkeys, birds, giant tortoises, a suitcase full of reptiles, including iguanas, and more.

From Quartz

Sure, the park is best known for its native giant tortoises and marine iguanas, but the protected ocean areas between the islands harbor what many consider the best diving and snorkeling on the planet.

From Outside Online

The species was named after a green pet iguana, Feiruz, who the study described as the “muse and lifelong friend” of Catherine Thomson, a Michigan resident who financially supports biodiversity and conservation research.

From Popular-Science

Neither pythons nor green iguanas made the Sunshine State their home until we brought them there as pets.

From Ars Technica

The team was looking for Liolaemus lizards, also known as tree iguanas, and found them as the researchers climbed above 5,000 meters.

From Science News

Williams would have only one more commercial success, Night of the Iguana in 1961, after his partnership with Kazan ended.

From The Daily Beast

Mid-90s Gallic nuclear testing is blamed for mutating a native iguana species of Tahiti.

From The Daily Beast

Outside the CNN Grill, a lone iguana even found time for sunbathing.

From The Daily Beast

Again and again the snake bites the iguana, and as often the latter has recourse to the counteracting influences of the antidote.

From Project Gutenberg

Certain reptiles are used as food by people of other nationalities, the Iguana, a Mexican lizard, being an example.

From Project Gutenberg

“This we call an iguana,” said the hermit as he piled a number of heavy stones on the carcase to preserve it from other animals.

From Project Gutenberg

Although Iguana iguana rhinolopha is arboreal, it lives in trees along rivers, into which it plunges upon being disturbed.

From Project Gutenberg

The iguana, as this lizard is called locally, seems to be uncommon in the forested areas of southern El Petn.

From Project Gutenberg