caiman

noun

cai·​man ˈkā-mən How to pronounce caiman (audio) kā-ˈman How to pronounce caiman (audio)
kī-
variants or less commonly
: any of several Central and South American crocodilians (such as genera Caiman, Melanosuchus, and Paleosuchus) similar to alligators

Examples of caiman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The waters surrounding the lodge are densely occupied by black caimans who float about peacefully and sometimes enjoy a rest underneath the floorboards of the lodge. Jamie Ditaranto, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2024 In addition to the primates and bats, the museum holds exquisite fossils of fish, caimans, giant turtles, plants, dolphins, birds, and amphibians. Byrodrigo Pérez Ortega, science.org, 17 July 2024 The area is home to thousands of endangered or unusual species, including jaguars, capybaras, black caimans, giant otters and hyacinth macaws. Aditi Sangal, CNN, 14 June 2024 The same goes for crocodiles, caimans, any wild cat species like bobcats and lynxes, any wolves or wolf/dog hybrids, or native wild animals like raccoons, skunks and foxes. Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for caiman 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'caiman.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Spanish caimán, probably from Carib caymán

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of caiman was in 1577

Dictionary Entries Near caiman

Cite this Entry

“Caiman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caiman. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

caiman

noun
cai·​man
variants also cayman
kā-ˈman,
kī-;
ˈkā-mən
: any of several Central and South American reptiles closely related to and resembling alligators

More from Merriam-Webster on caiman

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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