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 called: iguanid. any other lizard of the tropical American family Iguanidae

3. another name for leguaan

Other Word Forms

• iguanian noun

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

Spanish police announced on Saturday they had raided a unlicensed animal sanctuary and rescued hundreds of exotic creatures including leopard tortoises, iguanas and geckos.

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Over the years, he shared cooking recipes for alligator, iguana, frog legs, smoked duck and a variety of other dishes.

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The second season, which premieres Tuesday, is called “Lost in the Jungle,” and it follows the journeys of an opossum, an iguana and a jumping spider in the Central American rainforest.

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Discussing unmade films and dealing with an unruly pet iguana, Panahi renders an illuminating self-portrait.

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One of them stuck though - a report of an iguana stuck on the roof of a house.

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