pine lizard
- noun
- /paɪn ˈlɪzərd/
- US
:
lagartija de pino
- The children were delighted to spot a pine lizard basking on a fallen log.
Examples
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Biologists are studying how the pine lizard adapts to changes in its habitat.
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A pine lizard darted across the path as we hiked through the forest.
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I saw a pine lizard sunning on a rock.
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The pine lizard quickly darted into the bushes.
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A pine lizard darted across the path as we hiked through the forest.
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The children were delighted to spot a pine lizard basking on a fallen log.
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Biologists are studying how the pine lizard adapts to changes in its habitat.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a lizard associated with pine trees/forests' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'pine' (a type of tree or habitat) with 'lizard' (a reptile). This noun–noun compound follows a common, cross-linguistic pattern for naming species by habitat or association, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Pine lizard gets its name from where it lives. The word pine points to pine trees and lizard is the animal, so the name means 'a small lizard that lives in pine forests'.
