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amphibian

The definition of an amphibian is a cold-blooded animal which can live on land or in water and who breathes with gills when young and with lungs as an adult.

(noun)

A frog is an example of an amphibian.

See amphibian in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

any of a class (Amphibia) of coldblooded, scaleless vertebrates, consisting of frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, and caecilians, that usually begin life in the water as tadpoles with gills and later develop lungs
any amphibious animal or plant
any aircraft that can take off from and come down on either land or water
a tank or other vehicle that can travel on either land or water

Origin: < ModL Amphibia < Gr amphibia, neut. pl. of amphibios: see amphibious

adjective

of amphibians
amphibious

See amphibian in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A cold-blooded, smooth-skinned vertebrate of the class Amphibia, such as a frog or salamander, that characteristically hatches as an aquatic larva with gills. The larva then transforms into an adult having air-breathing lungs.
An animal capable of living both on land and in water.
An aircraft that can take off and land on either land or water.
A tracked or wheeled vehicle that can operate both on land and in water.

Origin:

Origin: From New Latin Amphibia, class name

Origin: , from Greek

Origin: , neuter pl. of amphibios, amphibious

Origin: : amphi-, amphi-

Origin: + bios, life; see g^wei- in Indo-European roots

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