any of numerous scaly reptiles of the suborder Sauria, order Squamata, typically having a moderately elongate body, a tapering tail, and two pairs of legs held outward from the body, comprising mostly terrestrial and burrowing species.
any of various reptiles resembling a lizard, as a dinosaur or crocodile.
leather made from the skin of the lizard, used for shoes, purses, etc.
Astronomy. Lizard, the constellation Lacerta.
Older Slang, lounge lizard.
Nautical. a pennant used as a leader for running rigging, having a thimble or bull's-eye.
The Lizard. Lizard Head.
any reptile of the suborder Lacertilia (or Sauria ), esp those of the family Lacertidae (Old World lizards), typically having an elongated body, four limbs, and a long tail: includes the geckos, iguanas, chameleons, monitors, and slow worms
leather made from the skin of such an animal
( as modifier )
a lizard handbag
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English liserd, variant of lesard(e), from Middle French lesarde, from Latin lacerta
A lizard is a type of reptile that has scales for skin, a long body, a pointy tail, and usually four legs. And they breathe fire. Okay, maybe not that last part, but that would be awesome. Lizards can be smaller than an inch long, or massive in size and weight — like the Komodo dragon, which can grow over ten feet in length. A type of lizard called a chameleon can change colors whenever it wants, and the Jesus lizard can walk on water. Most lizards live in deserts or jungles, however the word lizard comes from the Latin lacertus, which means “sea fish” — perhaps because they look like a monster that crawled out of the ocean.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas says he was chased by a dog, saw snakes and leapt over a lizard as he cycled from Malaysia to Singapore for this weekend's Grand Prix.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
I discussed lizard people and societal collapse with true believers.
From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026
Scientists have identified a new species of lizard living in the high mountain forests of western Thailand.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026
Goode had a pet tortoise when he was 6 and slept with a tegu lizard in his bed as a teen.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
As I talk, the lizard hops onto my shoulder and licks my cheek.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
Peter Hall, a National Trust chough monitoring volunteer on the Lizard, is on his 11th year of monitoring the nest sites.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
This docuseries has been in the works for nearly 20 years, since Goode read Brian Christy’s “The Lizard King” in 2008 and tried to option it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
The 52-year-old grew up in small-town British Columbia and spent a decade playing center for hockey teams around the world, including Florida’s Jacksonville Lizard Kings and the Manitoba Moose.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 20, 2025
Suzanne Rees, 80, had been hiking on Lizard Island with fellow passengers from the Coral Adventurer, but broke off from the group for a rest.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2025
Lizard houses, as previously noted, were as much like terrariums as they could be without compromising privacy; they were one of the few animals who kept spare sheets of glass everywhere.
From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness
Its frequent appearances in museum exhibitions and audiovisual productions about dinosaurs have also helped make it one of the best-known "terrible lizards" among the general public.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026
From the director of ‘Tiger King,’ a new docuseries examines the cold-blooded, illegal trade in lizards and the like in the 1980s and the lives of those who facilitated it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
In hard-hit areas like Le Porge, experts say insects will have perished en masse and larger creatures from toads to lizards will not have been spared either.
From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026
Adders, slow worms and common lizards will be the focus of protection efforts during a major peatland restoration project near Dumfries.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
“The lizards have become smarter. They run faster now and hide under blocks of cement,” the boy who had climbed told Ugwu.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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