salamander

[ sal-uh-man-der ]

noun

1. any tailed amphibian of the order Caudata, having a soft, moist, scaleless skin, typically aquatic as a larva and semiterrestrial as an adult: several species are endangered.
2. a mythical being, especially a lizard or other reptile, thought to be able to live in fire.
3. any of various portable stoves or burners.
4. Metallurgy. a mass of iron that accumulates at the bottom of a blast furnace as a result of the escape of molten metal through the hearth.
5. a metal plate or disk with a handle, heated and held over pastry, casserole crusts, etc., to brown or glaze it.
6. an oven usually heated from the top and bottom by gas, for cooking, browning, and glazing food.

salamander

/ ˈsæləˌmændə; ˌsæləˈmændrɪn /

noun

1. any of various urodele amphibians, such as Salamandra salamandra ( European fire salamander ) of central and S Europe (family Salamandridae ). They are typically terrestrial, have an elongated body, and only return to water to breed
2. any urodele amphibian
3. a mythical reptile supposed to live in fire
4. an elemental fire-inhabiting being
5. any person or thing able to exist in fire or great heat
6. metallurgy a residue of metal and slag deposited on the walls of a furnace
7. a portable stove used to dry out a building under construction

Derived Forms

• salamandrine, adjective

Other Words From

• sala·mander·like adjective
• sal·a·man·drine [sal-, uh, -, man, -drin], adjective
• sala·mandroid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of salamander¹

1300–50; Middle English salamandre from Latin salamandra from Greek salamándrā

Word History and Origins

Origin of salamander¹

C14: from Old French salamandre, from Latin salamandra, from Greek

Synonym Study

See sylph.

Example Sentences

The term “gerrymander” dates to 1812, when a Massachusetts district drawn to the advantage of Governor Elbridge Gerry was so strangely shaped that it was likened to a salamander.

From MIT Technology Review

You’d certainly expect moisture-loving salamanders to be doomed in a warming world.

From Vox

There are other, more bizarre tricks that salamanders use to avoid drying out.

From Vox

Yet in recent years, the slippery salamander has proven remarkably resilient to heat, drought, and perhaps even wildfires, owing to a number of unique adaptations.

From Vox

Worst-case models for the region projected a “near-complete loss” of the entire group of salamanders they studied, known as plethodontids.

From Vox

The woman reminds one of a red lizard—a salamander—her “svelte” body seemingly boneless in its gown of clinging scales.

From Project Gutenberg

Sprinkle grated breadcrumbs over, brown with a salamander, and serve with brown gravy.

From Project Gutenberg

Any lizard attracted by my hoecake would have to be a salamander—that fire-proof creature that is supposed to live in flames.

From Project Gutenberg

Cutts made his attack on Blenheim with all the fury which earned for him the nickname of the Salamander.

From Project Gutenberg

This yellow man did no mopping; his skin had the gloss of a salamander's, and his eyes were like dusky jewels.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• frog
• toad