noun
crocodile
KRO-kuh-dyl
noun
1
A large predatory reptile with a long snout and powerful jaws that lives in rivers and lakes in warm climates.
"A crocodile basked motionless on the muddy riverbank."
"Tourists were warned not to swim where crocodiles had been spotted."
2
British: a long line of people, especially schoolchildren, walking in pairs.
"The class walked to the museum in a neat crocodile."
How to Use Crocodile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large reptile similar to an alligator, known for its long jaws and thick armored skin.
Common mistake
Crocodiles have narrower, V-shaped snouts than alligators, which have broader, U-shaped ones — a common point of confusion.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
crocodile tears
a crocodile-infested river
crocodile skin
Word Forms
crocodiled past tense, crocodiles plural, crocodiles singular
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A _____ basked motionless on the muddy riverbank.
Etymology
From Old French cocodril, ultimately from Ancient Greek krokódeilos; the modern spelling was later reshaped to match the Latin and Greek forms more closely.