giant lizard
- noun
- /ˈdʒaɪənt ˈlɪzərd/
- The documentary featured a giant lizard hunting for prey in its natural habitat.
Examples
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Looks like a giant lizard to me.
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This place is crawling with giant lizards.
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Giant lizards native to this part of Mexico.
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A giant lizard?
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The Komodo dragon, a giant lizard, is the largest lizard species in the world.
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During our trip to Indonesia, we encountered a giant lizard basking in the sun.
Synonyms
A very large lizard from Indonesian islands that is the largest in the world
A very large lizard from Indonesian islands that can grow up to three meters long
A very large lizard from Indonesian islands, like the Komodo dragon
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a very large lizard' is directly and compositionally derived from the adjective 'giant' (very large) modifying the noun 'lizard' (a reptile), following a common adjective+noun pattern. Although the phrase can refer specifically to species like the Komodo dragon, that specific reference requires world knowledge but does not prevent a B1 learner who knows both words from understanding the basic meaning.
Etymology
Giant lizard comes from early explorers who saw very large, dragon-like reptiles on some Indonesian islands. People used the words giant and lizard to show size and type, so today giant lizard means a very large species such as the 'Komodo dragon'.