Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [kuh-mee-lee-uh n, -meel-yuh n]
- /kəˈmi li ən, -ˈmil yən/
- /kəˈmiː.li.ən/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [kuh-mee-lee-uh n, -meel-yuh n]
- /kəˈmi li ən, -ˈmil yən/
Definitions of chameleon word
- countable noun chameleon A chameleon is a kind of lizard whose skin changes colour to match the colour of its surroundings. 3
- noun chameleon 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 3
- noun chameleon a changeable or fickle person 3
- noun chameleon any of various Old World lizards (family Chamaeleontidae) with an angular head, prehensile tail, eyes that move independently of each other, the ability to change skin color rapidly, and a long, agile tongue for catching prey 3
- noun chameleon any of various superficially similar lizards that can change the color of their skin, as the American chameleon 3
- noun chameleon 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. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of chameleon
First appearance:
before 1300 One of the 15% oldest English words
1300-50; variant of chamaeleon < Latin < Greek chamailéōn, equivalent to chamaí on the ground, dwarf (akin to humus) + léōn lion; replacing Middle English camelion < Middle French < Latin, as above
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Chameleon
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
chameleon popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 73% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
chameleon usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for chameleon
noun chameleon
- opportunist — a person who practices opportunism, or the policy of adapting actions, decisions, etc., to effectiveness regardless of the sacrifice of ethical principles: He is an extreme opportunist and always thinks the ends justify the means.
- timeserver — a person who shapes his or her conduct to conform to the opinions of the time or of persons in power, especially for selfish ends.
- trimmer — the condition, order, or fitness of a person or thing for action, work, use, etc.
- pretender — a person who pretends, especially for a dishonest purpose.
- charlatan — You describe someone as a charlatan when they pretend to have skills or knowledge that they do not really possess.
Top questions with chameleon
- how do you spell chameleon?
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- how does a chameleon change color?
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See also
Matching words
- Words starting with c
- Words starting with ch
- Words starting with cha
- Words starting with cham
- Words starting with chame
- Words starting with chamel
- Words starting with chamele
- Words starting with chameleo
- Words starting with chameleon