Gila monster

noun

Gi·​la monster ˈhē-lə- How to pronounce Gila monster (audio)
: a large, stout, venomous lizard (Heloderma suspectum) that has rough, bumpy, black and orange, pinkish, or yellowish skin, a thick tail, and venom glands in the lower lip and that is found especially in arid regions of the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico

Illustration of Gila monster

Illustration of gila monster

Examples of Gila monster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And my favorite 'fun fact' – it's inspired by Gila monster venom. New Atlas, 8 Dec. 2024 Colorado man died from pet Gila monster’s venomous bite, autopsy shows Monterey Bay Aquarium. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024 This class of drugs was first developed in the 1990s when scientists identified a hormone-like molecule in the venom of a Gila monster, a lizard native to the American Southwest, that stimulated insulin secretion. Bruce Gil, Quartz, 9 Oct. 2024 To survive the harsh, hot conditions of its desert environment, the Gila monster also undergoes periods of estivation during the peak of summer. Scott Travers, Forbes, 14 Sep. 2024 Maricopa County, the largest county in Arizona, ended up with a colorful Gila monster (a species of lizard) sticker, while Ulster County in New York voted in a spirited illustration of a human head on a spider's body. Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press, 25 July 2024 Scientists found success in a compound in Gila monster saliva that is similar to human GLP-1 but much more stable. Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 25 June 2024 Loading your audio article A 34-year-old Colorado man believed to be the first person killed by a Gila monster in nearly a century died from complications associated with the reptile’s venom, a coroner determined. Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2024 In March 2024, a Colorado man died after being bitten by his pet Gila monster. Lily Carey, Discover Magazine, 14 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Gila River, Arizona

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Gila monster was in 1877

Dictionary Entries Near Gila monster

Cite this Entry

“Gila monster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Gila%20monster. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

Gila monster

noun
Gi·​la monster ˌhē-lə- How to pronounce Gila monster (audio)
: a large orange and black poisonous lizard of the southwestern U.S.
also : a related Mexican lizard
Etymology

from Gila, name of a river in Arizona

Medical Definition

Gila monster

noun
Gi·​la monster ˈhē-lə- How to pronounce Gila monster (audio)
: a large orange and black venomous lizard of the genus Heloderma (H. suspectum) of the southwestern United States

More from Merriam-Webster on Gila monster

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!