noun
Uncommon
lizard
LIHZ-uhd
Lizard (noun) means a reptile with four legs, a long tail, and (usually) scaly skin, distinct from snakes. Example: “A lizard darted across the hot pavement.”
noun
1
A reptile with four legs, a long tail, and (usually) scaly skin, distinct from snakes.
"A lizard darted across the hot pavement."
"Geckos and iguanas are both types of lizard."
"The children watched a lizard bask on a warm rock all afternoon."
2
The hand shape used in the game rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock, made by pinching the fingers like a puppet mouth.
"He threw lizard, which beat her paper."
"In our game, I held up lizard and my cousin groaned."
"She made a lizard with her hand and chose to play it against the rock."
How to use lizard
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small four-legged reptile with a long tail; also a hand gesture in an extended rock-paper-scissors game.
Common pairings
lizard skin
basking lizard
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Word forms
- Plural
- lizards
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ darted across the hot pavement.
Etymology
From Old French lesard, ultimately from Latin lacertus.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for lizard
See all rhymes for lizard →Frequently asked questions
What does “lizard” mean?
The word “lizard” means a reptile with four legs, a long tail, and (usually) scaly skin, distinct from snakes. In plain terms, a small four-legged reptile with a long tail; also a hand gesture in an extended rock-paper-scissors game.
How do you pronounce “lizard”?
“Lizard” is pronounced LIHZ-uhd (/ˈlɪz.ɚd/ in IPA).
How do you use “lizard” in a sentence?
Here is “lizard” used in a sentence: “A lizard darted across the hot pavement.”
What part of speech is “lizard”?
“Lizard” is a noun.
Where does the word “lizard” come from?
The word “lizard” comes from Latin. From Old French lesard, ultimately from Latin lacertus.
Is “lizard” a common word?
“Lizard” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “lizard” have?
“Lizard” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a reptile with four legs, a long tail, and (usually) scaly skin, distinct from snakes.
What is the difference between a lizard and a snake?
A lizard is a reptile with four legs, a long tail, and usually scaly skin, while a snake lacks legs entirely. This difference in limbs is the key distinction that separates the two, even though both are reptiles.
What does lizard mean in rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock?
In the game rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock, lizard refers to a hand shape made by pinching the fingers together like a puppet mouth, used as one of the five possible moves.
Are all lizards scaly?
Most lizards have scaly skin, though the definition allows for exceptions, since not every lizard species has scales in the same way.
