collared lizard
- noun
- /ˈkɒl.ərd ˈlɪ.zərd/
- US
:
lagarto con collar
- The collared lizard is known for the distinctive black bands around its neck.
Examples
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Hikers in the American Southwest may spot a collared lizard basking on sunlit rocks.
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A young collared lizard darted across the trail and disappeared into the grass.
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The collared lizard is known for its vibrant colors.
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Have you ever seen a collared lizard in the wild?
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The collared lizard is often seen basking on rocks in the sun.
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In the desert, the collared lizard displays its vibrant colors to attract a mate.
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While hiking in New Mexico, I spotted a collared lizard darting across the trail.
Synonyms
A group of North American lizards with dark bands on their necks
A kind of lizard with a dark collar that lives in dry places in North America
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun is a straightforward adjective+noun composition: 'collared' (having a collar or collar-like bands) + 'lizard' (a reptile), so the meaning 'a lizard with collar-like bands around its neck' is directly derivable from the parts. This is a literal, descriptive naming pattern common across languages and should be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.
Etymology
The noun collared lizard comes from the dark bands around the animal's neck that look like a collar. The word collared here means 'having a collar' and lizard is the animal, so the name simply describes this type of lizard and its look today.
