DictionaryAI

crocodile

SayKROK-uh-dylUS/ˈkɹɑkədaɪl/UK/ˈkɹɒkədaɪl/

Pluralcrocodiles

Verbcrocodiles, crocodiling, crocodiled

5 meanings of crocodile

Practice

  1. 1
    nouncountable
    A large reptile with a long body, tough scaly skin, and powerful jaws that lives in or near water.

    Like a giant lizard that hides in the water with only its eyes showing.

    A crocodile slid silently off the muddy bank into the river.

    Tourists watched several crocodiles bask on the sandbar in the heat.

    Note
  2. 2
    nouncountable
    A long line of people, especially children, walking somewhere together.

    Like a long train made of people, each one following the person in front.

    The teacher led the class in a crocodile down to the museum.

    We walked in a crocodile to the park, holding hands in pairs.

    Similarline, procession, file, column

    Note
  3. 3
    nouncountable
    A trick question that traps you no matter which answer you give.

    Like a question where saying yes and saying no both get you in trouble.

    The philosophy tutor posed a crocodile, and every reply the student tried only proved him wrong.

    Stuck in a crocodile, you lose whether you say yes or no.

    Note
  4. 4
    nounfigurativelyPhilippinescountable
    A greedy or dishonest person, especially a politician or official who takes more than their share.

    Like an animal that grabs everything for itself and leaves nothing for others.

    Voters called the mayor a crocodile after the bribery scandal broke.

    Those crocodiles in the council pocketed the relief money meant for families.

    Similarvulture, shark, leech, parasite

    Note
  5. 5
    verbslangintransitive
    To speak some other language instead of Esperanto at an Esperanto event.

    Beginners often crocodile when they get nervous at the Esperanto meetups.

    At the Esperanto club, please try not to crocodile during the evening session.

    Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–4

This word came through Middle English and Old French from Latin crocodilus, which came from Ancient Greek krokódeilos. Later the English word was reshaped to look more like the Latin and Greek forms.

Meaning 5

This comes from the noun, made as a direct translation of the Esperanto word krokodili.