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Glite Dictionary
crocodilian

crocodilian

1 6.5
A large meat-eating reptile like a crocodile or alligator with a long snout and a strong tail
  • noun
  • /ˌkrɒkəˈdɪliən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cocodrilo
  • Along with turtles and crocodilians, they are the reptiles that we see around us today.
  • turtles and crocodilians

So I've been lucky enough to be, you know, to help capture and measure crocodilians.

Examples

  • Researchers studied the crocodilian's diet to understand its role in the ecosystem.

  • Its head is crocodilian with rows of long, curving teeth.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Alright, the species that we're looking at today, the saltwater crocodile, is probably the most dangerous member of the crocodilian family.

    Rogue (2007)

  • The Alligator Farm is just over the bridge and is home to over 23 species of crocodilians as well as other reptiles, birds, and mammals.

    Blog text (5)

  • The large crocodilian lounged on the riverbank, soaking up the sun.

  • Visitors at the zoo marveled at the crocodilian gliding through the water with ease.

Synonyms

crocodilian reptile
vscrocodilian
6.8

A large animal like a crocodile or alligator that lives in water and on land and eats meat

focuses on physical features like a long snout and a powerful tail rather than habitat

Compounds

crocodilian reptile
6.8

A large animal like a crocodile or alligator that lives in water and on land and eats meat

Surface Forms

crocodilian singular
crocodilians plural

Morphology

crocodilian = crocodile (transparent) = crocodile + ian

The meaning 'belonging to or like a crocodile' is directly derived from the noun 'crocodile' plus the productive adjectival/noun-forming suffix '-ian'.

Etymology

Crocodilian comes from crocodile, which in Greek is made of krokē 'pebble' and deilos 'worm', so a helpful image is a long, worm-like creature moving over pebbles on a river bank. That's why crocodilians are the big, scaly river animals like crocodiles and alligators.