salamander

noun

sal·​a·​man·​der ˈsa-lə-ˌman-dər 

 also  ˌsa-lə-ˈman-

1

: a mythical animal having the power to endure fire without harm

2

: an elemental being in the theory of Paracelsus inhabiting fire

3

: any of numerous amphibians (order Caudata) superficially resembling lizards but scaleless and covered with a soft moist skin and breathing by gills in the larval stage

4

: an article used in connection with fire: such as

a

: a cooking utensil for browning a food (such as pastry or pudding)

b

: a portable stove

c

: a cooking device with an overhead heat source like a broiler

5

: a mass of unfused material (such as metallic iron or partially reduced ore) in the hearth of a blast furnace

6

: the pocket gopher (Geomys tuza) of the southeastern U.S.

salamandrine

ˌsa-lə-ˈman-drən 

adjective

Examples of salamander in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Springhouse Sallies, 2 p.m. at McCormick's Creek State Park in Spencer: Meet Naturalist Jessica at Deer Run Shelter to take a short hike on Trail 9 to see what salamanders are living in the Springhouse. —Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 16 May 2024

While in that part of the state, Hendricks donned a wetsuit and went underwater to capture life in the Savage River — a brook trout foraging among boulders for aquatic insects; minnows devouring a caterpillar; a wood turtle, a crayfish and the large salamander known as the Eastern hellbender. —Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 5 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English salamandre "a reptile believed to live in fire," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin salamandra, borrowed from Greek salamándra, probably of pre-Greek substratal origin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing salamander

• spotted salamander
• tiger salamander

Kids Definition

salamander

noun

sal·​a·​man·​der ˈsal-ə-ˌman-dər 

1

: an imaginary creature not harmed by fire

2

: any of an order of amphibians that are covered with scaleless usually smooth moist skin and look like lizards