: 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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Hunters in alligator management zone 1 in southwest Arkansas checked 69 alligators, and hunters in south-central Arkansas, zone 2, harvested four.—Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2025 Their logo is literally an alligator eating an oyster in the sun.—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025 Reuters — American golfer Vince Whaley had a particularly nerve-wracking encounter with a big-toothed onlooker at the Sanderson Farms Championship on Sunday, as he was forced to play a shot under the watchful gaze of a lurking alligator.—Reuters, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025 Tony's Chachere's, on the other hand, is known for its alligator sausage po’boy, Cajun sausage po’boy, jambalaya, and crawfish pie.—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 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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