chameleon
Pronunciation: /kəˈmiːlɪən/
(also chamaeleon)
Translate chameleon | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish Definition of chameleon
noun
- a small slow-moving Old World lizard with a prehensile tail, long extensible tongue, protruding eyes that rotate independently, and a highly developed ability to change colour.
- Family Chamaeleonidae: four genera, in particular Chamaeleo, and numerous species, including the European chameleon (C. vulgaris)
Derivatives
Origin:
Middle English: via Latin chamaeleon from Greek khamaileōn, from khamai 'on the ground' + leōn 'lion'
Spelling help
Chameleon can also be spelled chamaeleon, with ae after the m, although chameleon is far more common.
