Komodo dragon

American  

[kuh-moh-doh] / kəˈmoʊ doʊ /

noun

Komodo dragons plural

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.

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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.)

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Komodo dragons
  plural

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

It was during our spirited debate of who would win in a fight to the death — a Komodo dragon or a hippopotamus — that I knew this.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2023

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

In fact, the Komodo dragon, which is native to Indonesia, including the island of Komodo, is said to be the largest species of lizard among currently existing creatures.

From Washington Post • Jan. 16, 2023

He was taller than the siege tower—thirty feet, at least—with scaly reptilian legs like a Komodo dragon from the waist down and green-blue armor from the waist up.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan