noun
reptile
REHP-tyl
noun
1
A cold-blooded, scaly, egg-laying animal such as a snake, lizard, or turtle.
"The zoo's reptile house is home to several species of snake."
"Turtles are reptiles that can live for over a hundred years."
2
A despicable or repulsive person.
"He called his ex a lying reptile in front of everyone."
How to Use Reptile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA scaly, cold-blooded animal like a snake or lizard; informally, an insult for a nasty person.
Common pairings
reptile species
cold-blooded reptile
Word Forms
reptiles plural
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The zoo's _____ house is home to several species of snake.
Etymology
From Latin reptilis, "creeping," from repere ("to creep") — describing how these animals move low to the ground.