Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Ameiva

noun
Amei·​va | \ əˈmāvə, -īvə\

Definition of Ameiva

: a genus of New World lizards (family Teiidae)

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

First Known Use of Ameiva

1742, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for Ameiva

borrowed from New Latin, perhaps from an unrecorded word in an indigenous language of Brazil

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about Ameiva

Statistics for Ameiva

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for Ameiva

The first known use of Ameiva was in 1742

See more words from the same year

Comments on Ameiva

What made you want to look up Ameiva? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

spoonerism

Listen to the pronounciation of spoonerism

transposition of initial sounds of words

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Word Puzzles

  • alt 57589b2b4c6a3
  • Which answer pairs best with each of the following words? living, estate, club, music, road, mile
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games