English Explanatory Dictionary

alligator

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Either of two species of large amphibious reptile, Alligator mississippiensis or Alligator sinensis, in the genus Alligator within order Crocodilia, which have sharp teeth and very strong jaws and are native to the Americas and China, respectively.
  2. A member of the family Alligatoridae, which includes the caimans.
  3. A dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)
  4. A crocodile of any species.
  5. Any of various machines with strong jaws, one of which opens like the movable jaw of an alligator.
  6. A form of squeezer for the puddle ball.
  7. A rock breaker.
  8. A kind of job press.
  9. Any of various vehicles that have relatively long, low noses in front of a cab or other, usually windowed, structure.
  10. An alligator-skin shoe.
  11. A swing music fan or performer, especially one who is white.
verb
  1. To crack in a pattern resembling an alligator's skin.
intj
  1. Used in a common chronometric counting scheme, in which the speaker counts out loud, saying the word "alligator" between the numbers so that each number is spoken approximately one second after the last one.

Pronunciation

/ˈæl.ɪ.ɡeɪ.tə/ ălʹĭ-gā-tər /ˈæl.ɪ.ɡeɪ.tɚ/ En-us-alligator.ogg /ˈæl.ɪ.ɡæɪ.tə/ en-au-alligator.ogg

Word forms

alligator alligators alligatoring alligatored

Etymology

] From early Modern English alligater, alligarta, aligarto, alegarto, alagarto, from Spanish el lagarto (“the lizard”), from Latin lacertus (“lizard”), modern spelling possibly influenced by the unrelated Latin alligator (“one who binds”).

Synonyms

gator

Derived words

Allegheny alligator Alligator Alcatraz Alligator Alley alligator apple alligator bait alligator clamp alligator clip alligatored alligator fish alligatorfish alligator flag alligator forceps alligator gar alligator grass alligatoring alligator juniper alligator leather alligatorlike alligator lizard alligator pear alligator pepper Alligator Pond alligator press alligator saw alligator shear alligator snapper alligator snapping turtle alligator spread alligator terrapin alligator tortoise alligator turtle alligator-turtle alligatorweed alligator-wood alligatorwood alligator wrench American alligator big-lipped alligator moment Chinese alligator gator Haile alligator Olsen's alligator prairie alligator you later alligator spectacled alligator werealligator
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