American chameleon
- noun
- /əˈmɛrɪkən kəˈmiːliən/
- US
:
camaleón americano
- The American chameleon can change its color to blend in with the environment.
Examples
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Unlike true chameleons, the American chameleon is actually a type of anole.
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The American chameleon is often seen sunning itself on tree branches.
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Gardeners sometimes spot an American chameleon hunting insects among the leaves.
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Have you ever seen an American chameleon in the wild?
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Gardeners sometimes spot an American chameleon hunting insects among the leaves.
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The American chameleon is often seen sunning itself on tree branches.
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Have you ever seen an American chameleon in the wild?
Synonyms
1
9.9
A small lizard that lives in trees and can change color
A small lizard that lives in trees in the southeastern United States and can change color
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents: 'chameleon' (a lizard that changes color) qualified by 'American' (from the Americas) yields a chameleon species native to the Americas. This compositional adjective + noun pattern is standard and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
The name American chameleon may come from the lizard's ability to 'change color' to hide among leaves. People called it a chameleon to picture that 'change color' trick, even though it is really a different kind of lizard.