Dictionary Home »
Dictionary Definitions » salamander
salamander
(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
Origin: ME salamandre < OFr < L salamandra < Gr
Related Forms:
- salamandrine adjective
See salamander in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- Any of various small lizardlike amphibians of the order Caudata, having porous scaleless skin and four, often weak or rudimentary legs.
- a. A mythical creature, generally resembling a lizard, believed capable of living in or withstanding fire.b. In the occult philosophy of Paracelsus, a being having fire as its element.
- An object, such as a poker, used in fire or capable of withstanding heat.
- Metallurgy A mass of solidified material, largely metallic, left in a blast-furnace hearth.
- A portable stove used to heat or dry buildings under construction.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English salamandre
Origin: , from Old French
Origin: , from Latin salamandra
Origin: , from Greek
.Related Forms:
- salˌa·manˈdrine (-drĭn) adjective
Learn more about salamander
