What does "salamander" mean?
A long, slender, chiefly terrestrial amphibian of the order Caudata, superficially resembling a lizard.
Salamander
/ˈsæləˌmændə/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A long, slender, chiefly terrestrial amphibian of the order Caudata, superficially resembling a lizard.
- Grammar: salamander is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: amphibian, andiron, batrachian, broiler.
- Useful contrasts: oven.
- Usage evidence: A salamander, a toad, and a newt are not mammals, but amphibians.
How to use "salamander"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "salamander" 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 "salamander" 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 "salamander" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "salamander" 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 "salamander" 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 "amphibian" 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 "salamander", 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 A long, slender, chiefly terrestrial amphibian of the order Caudata, superficially resembling a lizard. countable, uncountable
"[…]and most plainly Pierius, whose words in his hieroglyphicks are these: "Whereas it is commonly said that a salamander extinguisheth fire, we have found by experience that it is so far from quenching hot coals, that it dyeth immediately therein.""
- 2 any of various typically terrestrial amphibians that resemble lizards and that return to water only to breed wordnet
- 3 A creature much like a lizard that is resistant to and lives in fire (in which it is often depicted in heraldry), hence the elemental being of fire. countable, uncountable
"“Not a chance, Ranger,” Bob Mason was speaking. “This little cuss is a salamander. He's been travelling through fire all day and there isn't a blister on him. …”"
- 4 fire iron consisting of a metal rod with a handle; used to stir a fire wordnet
- 5 A metal utensil with a flat head which is heated and put over a dish to brown the top. countable, uncountable
"The salamander, a fairly long metal utensil with a flat rounded head, was left in the fire until red hot and then used to brown the top of a dish without further cooking."
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 reptilian creature supposed to live in fire wordnet
- 7 A small broiler (North America) or grill (Britain) that heats the food from above, used in professional cookery primarily for browning. countable, uncountable
"The chef first put the steak under the salamander to sear the outside."
- 8 A pouched gopher (Geomys pinetis etc.) archaic, countable, uncountable
- 9 A large poker. UK, countable, obsolete, uncountable
"Multitudes had little Tin Kettles in their Houses, with Small-coal kindled, to light their Pipes withal; though in some places they use Candles, in others Salamanders"
- 10 Solidified material in a furnace hearth. uncountable
"Salamander tapping is done at the salamander base, which is the bottom-most level of the liquid pool in a blast furnace hearth. A high degree of precision is required to tap the salamander base effectively"
- 11 A portable stove used to heat or dry buildings under construction. countable, uncountable
"The necessary fires alone — the salamanders and tinner's pots — had caused dozens of small blazes."
- 12 A fire-eater (performer who pretends to swallow fire). UK, countable, obsolete, slang, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To use a salamander (cooking utensil) in a cooking process. transitive
"When cold, sprinkle the custard thickly with sugar and salamander it."
Antonyms
Example
"A salamander, a toad, and a newt are not mammals, but amphibians."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "salamander"?
Common synonyms include: amphibian, andiron, batrachian, broiler, bullfrog, caudate.
How do you use "salamander" in a sentence?
A salamander, a toad, and a newt are not mammals, but amphibians.
How do you pronounce "salamander"?
Pronounced /ˈsæləˌmændə/.
Etymology
From Middle English salamandre, from Anglo-Norman salamandre, from Latin salamandra, from Ancient Greek σαλαμάνδρα (salamándra), of uncertain origin (per Beekes, likely Pre-Greek); possibly of Iranian origin, see Persian سمندر (samandar) for more information.