American alligator
1
4.2
- noun
- /əˈmɛrɪkən ˈælɪˌɡeɪtər/
- US
:
caimán americano
- In the wetlands of Florida, I spotted an American alligator basking in the sun.
Examples
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The American alligator is known for its broad snout and dark coloration.
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During our hike, we saw an American alligator resting near the water's edge.
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All three American alligators produced tears.
Academic text (2007) -
A 3.5-m male American alligator witnessed the feeding of the above-mentioned alligator and may have anticipated being fed.
Academic text (2007)
Synonyms
87
7.8
A large animal that lives in water and on land with a wide rounded snout
A large alligator that lives in the southeastern United States
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward adjective+noun combination: 'American' specifies origin/location (the United States) and 'alligator' names the reptile species, so the meaning is directly derivable from the constituents. This species-naming pattern is cross-linguistically common and follows regular English composition rules, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner who knows both words.
Etymology
American alligator gets its name from a Spanish phrase early visitors used: they called the animals 'el lagarto' which means 'the lizard'. English speakers heard that as alligator, so the name now means the large alligator found in America.