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Glite Dictionary
desert iguana

desert iguana

7.9
A small lizard with a long tail that lives in hot dry deserts and sits in the sun on rocks
  • noun
  • /ˈdɛzərt ɪˈɡwɑːnə/
  • US
translation icon : iguana del desierto
  • The desert iguana is often seen basking on rocks during the hottest part of the day.

Examples

  • Researchers observed a desert iguana burrowing into the sandy soil to escape predators.

  • During our hike, we spotted several desert iguanas near the cacti.

  • The desert iguana is often found basking in the sun.

  • Many desert iguanas can be seen in Arizona.

  • During our hike, we spotted several desert iguanas near the cacti.

  • Researchers observed a desert iguana burrowing into the sandy soil to escape predators.

  • The desert iguana is often seen basking on rocks during the hottest part of the day.

Synonyms

Dipsosaurus dorsalis
vsdesert iguana
  • Specialized
9.9

A small lizard with a long tail that lives in hot deserts

is the common name used instead of the scientific species name
Dipsosaurus
vsdesert iguana
  • Specialized
9.9

A lizard that lives in hot dry deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico

is narrower, meaning the single species rather than the broader genus

Surface Forms

desert iguana singular
desert iguanas plural

Morphology

desert + iguana

This is a straightforward noun–noun compound denoting a type of iguana associated with a desert habitat; the meaning is directly compositional from 'desert' (arid region) + 'iguana' (a lizard). Habitat-based naming of animals is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Desert iguana is the name for a small 'lizard'. The parts desert and iguana give a simple picture: desert shows it lives in 'hot, dry places' and iguana shows it is a type of 'lizard', so the name means a lizard that lives in the desert.