Word
salamander
Phoneticssala·man·der
US/ˌsæɫəˈmændɝ/
UK/sˈælɐmˌɑːndɐ/
Definitions
01the animal
n. a small animal with a long tail and wet skin that looks like a lizard but is an amphibian.
n. any of various tailed amphibians of the order Caudata, typically characterized by a lizard-like appearance and moist, scale-less skin.
“We found a small, orange salamander hiding under a damp log in the woods.”
“The researchers monitored the salamander population in the wetlands to assess the impact of rising water temperatures on amphibian breeding cycles.”
Synonyms
02mythical creature
n. a legendary creature, often shaped like a lizard, that people once believed could live in fire.
n. a mythical being, often represented as a lizard, believed to be capable of enduring or living within fire.
“Old stories describe the salamander as a spirit that dances inside the flames.”
“In medieval heraldry, the salamander was frequently depicted amidst flames to symbolize enduring faith or courage in the face of adversity.”
Literary
Synonyms
03kitchen equipment
n. a powerful overhead grill used in professional kitchens to brown the top of food quickly.
n. a high-temperature overhead broiler or grill used in professional catering for browning, glazing, or finishing dishes.
“The chef put the French onion soup under the salamander to melt the cheese.”
“After plating the fish, the sous-chef placed it briefly under the salamander to achieve a perfectly crisp skin without overcooking the delicate flesh.”
Technical
Synonyms
04construction heater
n. a portable heater used on building sites to dry out materials or keep workers warm.
n. a portable, often oil- or gas-fired heater used in the construction industry to provide warmth or to dry out masonry and plaster.
“They left a salamander running overnight to help the new concrete dry faster.”
“During the winter months, the site manager insisted on using a salamander to prevent the freshly applied plaster from freezing before it could set.”
Technical · American English
Synonyms
05to brown food
v. to use a special grill to brown the top of a dish.
v. to brown, toast, or glaze the surface of a food item using a salamander broiler.
“You should salamander the top of the crème brûlée until the sugar turns into a crust.”
“The recipe instructs the cook to salamander the gratin for exactly ninety seconds to ensure an even, golden-brown finish across the entire surface.”
Technical
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“Frogs, toads, and salamanders have delicate skeletons that do not fossilize easily, so their remains are uncommon in the fossil record outside asphaltic sites such as La Brea Tar Pits.” “This hypothesis emerged in part because the modern animals that look the most like early tetrapods are salamanders that experience metamorphosis.” Etymology
From Middle English salamandre, from Anglo-Norman salamandre, from Latin salamandra, from Ancient Greek σαλαμάνδρα (salamándra), of uncertain origin (per Beekes, likely Pre-Greek); possibly of Iranian origin, see Persian سمندر (samandar) for more information.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.