lizard

American  

[liz-erd] / ˈlɪz ərd /

noun

1. 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.

2. any of various reptiles resembling a lizard, as a dinosaur or crocodile.

3. leather made from the skin of the lizard, used for shoes, purses, etc.

4. Astronomy. Lizard, the constellation Lacerta.

5. Older Slang, lounge lizard.

6. Nautical. a pennant used as a leader for running rigging, having a thimble or bull's-eye.

7. The Lizard. Lizard Head.

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lizard ¹ British  

/ ˈlɪzəd /

noun

1. 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

2. 1. leather made from the skin of such an animal

   2. ( as modifier )

      a lizard handbag

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Lizard ² British  

/ ˈlɪzəd /

noun

1. Also known as: Lizard Head.   the Lizard Peninsula.  a promontory in SW England, in SW Cornwall: the southernmost point in Great Britain

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Etymology

Origin of lizard

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English liserd, variant of lesard(e), from Middle French lesarde, from Latin lacerta

Explanation

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.

Example Sentences

Our enterprising Gravedigger, a true woman of science, engineers a lizard elixir and regenerates the finger into a long tentacle that eventually demands a body.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

Frigid temperatures in the largely subtropical state can "cold-stun" iguanas, causing them to fall off trees in what has been referred to as a "lizard blizzard."

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

The ring for this match was oversized, roughly the square footage of Wyoming, providing Paul plenty of room to run, skip, backpedal, and, weirdly, flick a lizard tongue at a circling Joshua.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 20, 2025

"The new animal is unlike anything yet discovered and has made us all think again about the evolution of the lizard, snakes and the tuatara," said Dan Marke.

From Science Daily • Nov. 30, 2025

A roadrunner chased a small lizard from the left side in front of our traveling animal cavalcade.

From This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen

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