lizard: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral, common in everyday, scientific, and literary contexts.
Quick answer
What does “lizard” mean?
A common scaly, cold-blooded reptile with four legs, a long tail, and typically a long body, often basking in the sun.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A common scaly, cold-blooded reptile with four legs, a long tail, and typically a long body, often basking in the sun.
Any of numerous suborders of squamate reptiles (order Squamata). Figuratively, can denote a person seen as sly, secretive, or cold-blooded.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use 'lizard' for the animal. The term 'gecko' or 'iguana' specifies types more common in respective regions.
Connotations
Similar neutral-to-slightly negative connotations (cold, sly). In UK, 'lounge lizard' (a idle, fashionable man) is a dated term.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “lizard” in a Sentence
see a lizardthe lizard basksa lizard of [type]like a lizardVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lizard” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He lizard-sat for his friend's pet iguana.
- She's off lizard-watching in the Algarve.
American English
- They went lizarding in the Arizona desert.
- He's been lizarding on that rock all afternoon.
adverb
British English
- He moved lizard-slow across the hot stones.
American English
- The cat crept lizard-quiet toward its prey.
adjective
British English
- The lizard-like creature darted away.
- He has a certain lizard coolness about him.
American English
- Her lizard brain told her to flee.
- It was a lizard-green sports car.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially in branding ('Lizard Tech') or metaphors for cold adaptability.
Academic
Common in biology, zoology, paleontology, and ecology texts.
Everyday
Common when discussing pets, wildlife, or seen in gardens/holidays.
Technical
Used in herpetology, taxonomy, and evolutionary biology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lizard”
- Pronouncing as /ˈlaɪ.zərd/. Using 'lizzard' (double z). Using 'lizard' for a salamander (which is an amphibian).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Snakes and lizards are both squamate reptiles, but snakes are a distinct, legless lineage. They are related but not the same.
Informally, yes, especially in American English (e.g., 'to go lizarding' means to look for lizards). It's not a standard core verb.
A dated, chiefly British term for a man who spends time idly in fashionable social venues (like hotel lounges), often to charm wealthy women.
Lizards are reptiles: they have scaly skin, claws, and lay eggs with leathery shells. Salamanders are amphibians: they have moist, smooth skin and undergo metamorphosis from an aquatic larval stage.
A common scaly, cold-blooded reptile with four legs, a long tail, and typically a long body, often basking in the sun.
Lizard is usually neutral, common in everyday, scientific, and literary contexts. in register.
Lizard: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɪz.əd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɪz.ɚd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “lounge lizard”
- “lizard-brained”
- “drinks like a lizard”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
LIZards LIE in the sun on a Z-shaped rock.
Conceptual Metaphor
COLD-BLOODEDNESS IS CALLOUSNESS / SLOWNESS IS LAZINESS.
Practice
Quiz
In a metaphorical sense, calling someone a 'lizard' often implies they are: