: either of two large carnivorous, thick-skinned, long-bodied, aquatic, crocodilian reptiles (Alligator mississippiensis of the southeastern U.S. and A. sinensis of China) that have a broad head with a slightly tapered, long, rounded, U-shaped snout and a special pocket in the upper jaw for reception of the enlarged lower fourth tooth
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In an Instagram post shared by Gator Country on Wednesday, Jan. 22, alligator expert Gary Saurage showed off how the large reptiles are handling the frigid temperatures in Texas this winter.—Angel Saunders, People.com, 25 Jan. 2025 At Lincoln Park, two seven-foot alligators at a zoo rode the floodwaters to freedom.—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2025 The watch comes with two alligator leather and calfskin straps.—Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025 The platinum piece includes a black alligator leather strap and retails for over $150,000.—Hannah Malach, WWD, 6 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for alligator
Word History
Etymology
Spanish el lagarto the lizard, from el the (from Latin ille that) + lagarto lizard, from Vulgar Latin *lacartus, from Latin lacertus, lacerta — more at lizard
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