# lizard

/ˈɫɪzɝd/ (US) · /lˈɪzəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lizard
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the animal

noun · CEFR A2

a small animal with scaly skin, four legs, and a long tail that lives in warm places.

For teachers: a reptile of the order Squamata, typically possessing a scaly body, four limbs, and a tapering tail.

- A small green lizard sat on the rock to warm itself in the sun.
- The desert lizard has evolved specialized scales that minimize water loss in the extreme heat of its natural habitat.

### 2. unpleasant person

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

an unpleasant or dishonest person who tries to win favor in a creepy way.

For teachers: a person perceived as unctuous, untrustworthy, or socially repulsive.

- Don't trust that guy; he's a total lizard who only cares about money.
- The political consultant was described by his rivals as a lizard, willing to change his principles to suit whichever candidate was leading the polls.

### 3. someone who hangs around a place

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

someone who spends a lot of time in a specific place, like a lounge or a gym.

For teachers: a person who frequents a particular environment or social setting, often used in compounds.

- He's a real lounge lizard who spends every evening at the hotel bar.
- The term 'lounge lizard' originally referred to men who frequented upscale hotels to pick up wealthy women, though it now describes anyone who idles in bars.

### 4. lizard skin

noun · CEFR B2

leather made from the skin of a lizard.

For teachers: the skin or hide of a lizard, often used as a material for luxury goods.

- She wore a pair of expensive lizard boots to the party.
- The designer's new collection featured handbags crafted from ethically sourced lizard, polished to a high gloss.

## Examples

- A small green lizard ran across the hot stone wall.
- While hiking through the desert, we saw a lizard basking on a rock to regulate its body temperature.
- The evolutionary success of the lizard is evident in its diverse adaptations, ranging from the adhesive toe pads of geckos to the color-changing camouflage of the chameleon.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.