dragon

The word “dragon” means a mythical, usually giant reptilian creature, often depicted breathing fire and guarding treasure in Western folklore. In plain terms, a legendary giant serpent-like beast, often depicted breathing fire in Western stories or as a lucky symbol in Eastern culture.

“Dragon” is pronounced DRA-guhn (/ˈdɹæɡən/ in IPA).

Here is “dragon” used in a sentence: “The knight set out to slay the dragon.”

“Dragon” is a noun.

The word “dragon” comes from Ancient Greek. From Old French dragon, from Latin draco, from Ancient Greek drakon, "a huge serpent.".

“Dragon” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Dragon” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a mythical, usually giant reptilian creature, often depicted breathing fire and guarding treasure in Western folklore.

Western dragons are usually winged, fire-breathing reptiles depicted as fierce, treasure-hoarding monsters to be slain. Eastern dragons, especially in Chinese tradition, are long and serpentine, typically wingless, and seen as wise, benevolent bringers of rain, water, and good fortune. The two traditions treat the creature almost oppositely.

In heraldry and fantasy, a wyvern has two legs and two wings, often with a barbed tail. A classic Western dragon has four legs plus a separate pair of wings, making six limbs in all. Wyverns are treated as a distinct, lesser cousin of the true dragon, though the terms overlap loosely.

No. Dragons are mythical creatures found in the folklore of many cultures, not living animals. Scholars think the legends may have been inspired by real things — dinosaur and other large fossils, crocodiles, and giant snakes — reshaped by imagination over centuries into the fire-breathing beasts of story.

Dragon symbolism varies by culture. In Western folklore they often represent greed, danger, chaos, and a menace for heroes to overcome. In much of East Asia they stand for power, wisdom, imperial authority, and good luck. Across traditions, the dragon commonly embodies immense, elemental strength.