chameleon

[ kuh-mee-lee-uhn, -meel-yuhn ]
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noun
  1. any of numerous Old World lizards of the family Chamaeleontidae, characterized by the ability to change the color of their skin, very slow locomotion, and a projectile tongue.

  2. any of several American lizards capable of changing the color of the skin, especially Anolis carolinensis(American chameleon ), of the southeastern U.S.

  1. a changeable, fickle, or inconstant person.

  2. (initial capital letter)Astronomy. Chamaeleon.

Origin of chameleon

1
1300–50; variant of chamaeleon<Latin <Greek chamailéōn, equivalent to chamaí on the ground, dwarf (akin to humus) + léōnlion; replacing Middle English camelion<Middle French <Latin, as above

Other words from chameleon

  • cha·me·le·on·ic [kuh-mee-lee-on-ik], /kəˌmi liˈɒn ɪk/, adjective
  • cha·me·le·on·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use chameleon in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for chameleon

chameleon

/ (kəˈmiːlɪən) /


noun
  1. any lizard of the family Chamaeleontidae of Africa and Madagascar, having long slender legs, a prehensile tail and tongue, and the ability to change colour

  2. a changeable or fickle person

Origin of chameleon

1
C14: from Latin chamaeleon, from Greek khamaileōn, from khamai on the ground + leōn lion

Derived forms of chameleon

  • chameleonic (kəˌmiːlɪˈɒnɪk), adjective
  • chameleon-like, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012