Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [bas-uh-lisk, baz-]
- /ˈbæs ə lɪsk, ˈbæz-/
- /ˈbæzɪlɪsk/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [bas-uh-lisk, baz-]
- /ˈbæs ə lɪsk, ˈbæz-/
Definitions of basilisk word
- noun basilisk (in classical legend) a serpent that could kill by its breath or glance 3
- noun basilisk any small arboreal semiaquatic lizard of the genus Basiliscus of tropical America: family Iguanidae (iguanas). The males have an inflatable head crest, used in display 3
- noun basilisk a 16th-century medium cannon, usually made of brass 3
- noun basilisk a mythical lizardlike monster with supposedly fatal breath and glance, fabled to have been hatched by a serpent from a cock's egg 3
- noun basilisk any of a genus (Basiliscus) of iguanas with an erectile crest on the back and tail and an inflatable pouch on the head 3
- noun basilisk an obsolete kind of cannon 3
Information block about the term
Origin of basilisk
First appearance:
before 1250 One of the 11% oldest English words
1250-1300; Middle English < Latin basiliscus < Greek basilískos princeling, basilisk, equivalent to basil(eús) king + -iskos diminutive suffix; allegedly so named from a crownlike white spot on its head
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Basilisk
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
basilisk popularity
A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 68% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
basilisk usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for basilisk
noun basilisk
- hydra — A minute freshwater coelenterate with a stalklike tubular body and a ring of tentacles around the mouth.
- tarragon — an Old World plant, Artemisia dracunculus, having aromatic leaves used for seasoning.
- wyvern — a two-legged winged dragon having the hinder part of a serpent with a barbed tail.
- monster — a legendary animal combining features of animal and human form or having the forms of various animals in combination, as a centaur, griffin, or sphinx.
Top questions with basilisk
- what is a basilisk?
- what is basilisk?
- who does the basilisk petrify?
- how to make a basilisk?
- how does a basilisk lizard run on water?
- what does basilisk mean?
- where do basilisk lizards live?
- what do basilisk lizards eat?
- where does the basilisk lizard live?
- how does the basilisk lizard run on water?
- what is a basilisk lizard?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with b
- Words starting with ba
- Words starting with bas
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- Words starting with basilisk