lizard

noun

LIZ-urd/ˈlɪz.ɚd/UKLIZ-uhd/ˈlɪz.əd/

6 meanings of lizard

1
reptilenouncountable
A small reptile with four legs, a long tail, and dry scaly skin.
Like a tiny dragon that is harmless and much smaller.
A green lizard sat on the warm rock in the sun.
Lizards can grow a new tail if they lose one.
Note
2
leathernoununcountablebefore a noun
The skin of a lizard, often used as leather for shoes, belts, and bags.
His boots are made of brown lizard.
The shop sells shoes wrapped in real lizard.
UsageUse it like leather: lizard boots, real lizard.
Note
3
idle personnouncountablein compounds
A person who spends lots of lazy time hanging around one place, like a bar or a beach.
She was a club lizard who sat by the bar every night.
My uncle is a beach lizard who tans all summer long.
UsageMostly in lounge lizard. It is not a kind word.
Similaridler, loafer, lounger
Note

Less common meanings

4
smooth talkernouncolloquialcountable
A person who acts too smooth and falsely nice to get what they want.
The lizard kept praising the boss just to get a raise.
Nobody trusts that lizard because his kindness feels fake.
Similarsycophant, flatterer, toady, creep, snake
5
nouncolloquial
A person who is too scared to do brave or risky things.
6
noun
A hand shaped like a puppet's mouth, used in a five-way version of rock, paper, scissors. It beats paper and Spock.

Practice

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Origin

The word came from Old French, from Latin lacertus, whose earlier origin is not clearly known.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Lizard came through Old French from Latin lacertus. en.wikipedia.org
The earlier origin of Latin lacertus is not clearly known. en.wiktionary.org