salamander

salamander Definition

sala·man·der (sal′ə man′dər)

noun

a mythological reptile, resembling the lizard, that was said to live in fire
a spirit supposed to live in fire: orig., a spirit in Paracelsus' alchemical system
any of various articles used in fire or able to produce or withstand heat, as a poker, portable oven, or a utensil for browning pastry
any of an order (Caudata) of limbed, tailed amphibians with a soft, moist skin

Etymology: ME salamandre < OFr < L salamandra < Gr

salamander Related Forms

sal′a·man′·drine (-drin) adjective

salamander Synonyms

salamander Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

aquatic: Aquatic salamanders and newts are the only adult vertebrates which can regenerate a limb, and they can regenerate other structures as well.
black: Big eagles with white tails, black woodpecker and a big black salamander with orange spots.

Modifies a noun

larva: The researchers tested the suggestion that pathogens may be influential by feeding cannibal tiger salamander larvae diseased and non-diseased prey.
grill: Picture shows the 12 gas rings, salamander grill and far left, the dishwasher area.
book: Salamander Books ( London, 1987 ) Contains a brief historical overview of gun development, then details contemporary weapons.

Noun used with modifier

tiger: Toads, lizards, and tiger salamanders use the burrows to escape from drying winds.
cave: Shallow pools in the floor wriggled with cave salamanders hiding from our lights under slabs and branches.
fire: Dozens of squashed fire salamanders seen on road here - no live ones!
cannibal: The researchers tested the suggestion that pathogens may be influential by feeding cannibal tiger salamander larvae diseased and non-diseased prey.

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