What does "crocodile" mean?
Any of the predatory amphibious reptiles of the family Crocodylidae; (loosely) a crocodilian, any species of the order Crocodilia, which also includes the alligators, caimans and gavials.
Crocodile
/ˈkɹɑkədaɪl/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any of the predatory amphibious reptiles of the family Crocodylidae; (loosely) a crocodilian, any species of the order Crocodilia, which also includes the alligators, caimans and gavials.
- Grammar: crocodile is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: brand name, chameleon, crocodilian, crocodilus.
- Useful contrasts: caiman, genuineness, honesty.
- Usage evidence: The crocodile, which produces only male young in hotter weather, might die out too because there will be no females to breed.
How to use "crocodile"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "crocodile" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "crocodile" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "crocodile" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "crocodile" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "crocodile" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "brand name" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "crocodile", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of the predatory amphibious reptiles of the family Crocodylidae; (loosely) a crocodilian, any species of the order Crocodilia, which also includes the alligators, caimans and gavials.
"The Roman poet Horace states that the excrement of the crocodile has aphrodisiac virtues."
- 2 large voracious aquatic reptile having a long snout with massive jaws and sharp teeth and a body covered with bony plates; of sluggish tropical waters wordnet
- 3 A long line or procession of people (especially children) walking together.
"Sometimes the kids from the slap-up boys' schools in Eastbourne used to be led round in crocodiles to hand out fags and peppermint creams to the 'wounded Tommies', as they called us."
- 4 A fallacious dilemma, mythically supposed to have been first used by a crocodile.
"We have seen syllogisms, crocodiles, enthymemas, sorites, &c. explained and tried upon a boy of nine or ten years old in playful conversation[…]"
- 5 greedy or corrupt person (especially a politician or any public official) Philippines, figuratively
Verb
- 1 To speak another language than Esperanto at an Esperanto-language gathering. intransitive, slang
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The crocodile, which produces only male young in hotter weather, might die out too because there will be no females to breed."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "crocodile"?
Common synonyms include: brand name, chameleon, crocodilian, crocodilus, dinosaur, dragon.
How do you use "crocodile" in a sentence?
The crocodile, which produces only male young in hotter weather, might die out too because there will be no females to breed.
How do you pronounce "crocodile"?
Pronounced /ˈkɹɑkədaɪl/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English cocodrill, cokadrill, cokedril, from Old French cocodril (modern French crocodile), from Medieval Latin cocodrillus, from Latin crocodilus, from Ancient Greek κροκόδειλος (krokódeilos). The word was later refashioned after the Latin and Greek forms. Doublet of krokodil.
Etymology 2
Derived from the noun as a calque of Esperanto krokodili.