noun
salamander
SA-luh-man-duh
noun
1
A slender, moist-skinned amphibian that looks a bit like a lizard, typically living in damp or wet habitats.
"They found a spotted salamander hiding under a log."
"Salamanders breathe partly through their skin, so they need to stay damp."
2
A small grill or broiler that browns food from above, used in professional kitchens.
"The chef finished the crème brûlée under the salamander."
3
A mythical lizard-like creature said to live in and be immune to fire.
"Medieval bestiaries described the salamander as a fire spirit."
How to Use Salamander
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small lizard-like amphibian; also a kitchen broiler, and in myth, a creature that lives in fire.
Common pairings
spotted salamander
fire salamander
under the salamander (cooking)
Word Forms
salamandered past tense, salamanders plural, salamanders singular
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Etymology
From Old French salamandre, from Latin salamandra, from Greek — origin uncertain but possibly borrowed from an ancient Near Eastern language.