Komodo dragon

American  

[kuh-moh-doh] / kəˈmoʊ doʊ /

noun

1. a monitor lizard, Varanus komodoensis, of certain Indonesian islands E of Java, that grows to a length of 10 feet (3 meters): the largest lizard in the world; now rare.

---

Komodo dragon British  

/ kəˈməʊdəʊ /

noun

1. the largest monitor lizard, Varanus komodoensis, of Komodo and other East Indian islands: grows to a length of 3 m (about 10 ft) and a weight of 135 kilograms (about 300 lbs.)

---

Etymology

Origin of Komodo dragon

First recorded in 1925–30; named after Komodo, Indonesian island, its principal range

Example Sentences

The Komodo dragon kills prey with a combination of nasty venom and lacerating teeth that dispatch that venom speedily into the victim's flesh.

From National Geographic • Feb. 7, 2024

Still, “we’re not talking kissy lips,” he pointed out — they’d be thin and scaly like those of the Komodo dragon, a large lizard.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 30, 2023

Also, Robert and Chandler catch some waves before taking a road trip to pick up a new Komodo dragon in this new episode of the unscripted series.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 15, 2022

Lizard species range in size from chameleons and geckos, which are a few centimeters in length, to the Komodo dragon, which is about 3 meters in length.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

At this school, that included the three monitors, plus a group of geckos who played in the school marching band, and a Komodo dragon with terrible breath who everyone—mammal, bird, and lizard alike—avoided.

From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness