alligator

noun

al·​li·​ga·​tor ˈa-lə-ˌgā-tər 

1

: either of two large carnivorous, thick-skinned, long-bodied, aquatic, crocodilian reptiles (Alligator mississippiensis of the southeastern U.S. and A. sinensis of China) that have a broad head with a slightly tapered, long, rounded, U-shaped snout and a special pocket in the upper jaw for reception of the enlarged lower fourth tooth

broadly : crocodilian

2

: leather made from alligator hide

Illustration of alligator

• alligator 1

Examples of alligator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Her final carousel photo was a shot of two hyper-realistic albino alligator props. —Catherine Santino, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024

Costumes range from to an alligator tour guide, to tributes to pop queen 's lyrics. —Lydia Patrick, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

Her stock rotates weekly, but can include alligator bites from Sweden, smiling pumpkins from Germany and sour blue raspberries from Spain. —Natalie Bennett, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024

Framed by a polished 42mm platinum case, the watch is available with either a grey alligator nubuck leather strap or a more modern blue synthetic strap crafted from recycled materials, echoing the brand's attention to sustainability. —Matthew Catellier, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish el lagarto the lizard, from el the (from Latin ille that) + lagarto lizard, from Vulgar Latin *lacartus, from Latin lacertus, lacerta — more at lizard

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing alligator

• alligator clip
• alligator pear
• alligator snapper
• alligator snapping turtle

Kids Definition

alligator

noun

al·​li·​ga·​tor ˈal-ə-ˌgāt-ər 

1

: either of two large short-legged reptiles resembling crocodiles but having a shorter and broader snout

2

: leather made from alligator's hide

Etymology

from Spanish el lagarto "the lizard"