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alligator
[al-i-gey-ter]
noun
either of two broad-snouted crocodilians of the genus Alligator, of the southeastern U.S. and eastern China.
(loosely) any broad-snouted crocodilian, as a caiman.
Metallurgy.a machine for bringing the balls of iron from a puddling furnace into compact form so that they can be handled.
Jazz.an enthusiastic fan of swing.
verb (used without object)
(of paint, varnish, or the like) to crack and acquire the appearance of alligator hide, as from weathering or improper application to a surface.
Metalworking.(of a rolled metal slab) to split and curl up and down at one end; fishmouth.
alligator
/ ˈæɪˌɡɪə /
noun
a large crocodilian, Alligator mississipiensis, of the southern US, having powerful jaws and sharp teeth and differing from the crocodiles in having a shorter and broader snout: family Alligatoridae (alligators and caymans)
a similar but smaller species, A. sinensis, occurring in China near the Yangtse River
any crocodilian belonging to the family Alligatoridae
any of various tools or machines having adjustable toothed jaws, used for gripping, crushing, or compacting
Word History and Origins
Origin of alligator1
Word History and Origins
Origin of alligator1
Example Sentences
Once known as the alligator pear, the avocado traces its history to southern Mexico, where the fruit, according to some experts, was first cultivated about 5,000 years ago.
“I know it’s strange to people that we get so attached to an alligator, to all of our animals,” Young added.
She does, however, share the uncanny knack for arriving just as a murder’s taking place, be it on an alligator farm in Florida or a sprawling East Coast mansion.
The five that had been on board stood on top of the plane and were "surrounded by alligators that came within three metres of us".
The Times was curious to see where people were spotting the three most frequently observed lizard species in Southern California, the fence, the common side-blotched lizard and the southern alligator lizard.
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When To Use
Alligators and crocodiles are both large, lizardlike reptiles known for their large, powerful jaws and sharp teeth, their long tails, and their thick, plated skin.However, you can tell them apart through some physical differences. Alligators are typically darker and have broader snout. Crocodiles are often lighter in color and have a narrower snout.When they’re in the water, alligators typically lurk under the surface, with only their eyes visible. In contrast, crocodiles typically hold the top of their head out of the water. When alligators’ jaws are closed, only their upper teeth are visible, but both the upper and lower teeth of crocodiles are visible when their jaws are closed.Alligators mainly live in the southeastern U.S. and eastern China. Crocodiles live in tropical areas of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Australia. The only place that wild alligators and crocodiles have been documented as inhabiting the same area is in south Florida.Taxonomically speaking, alligators and crocodiles are not only different species, they also belong to a different genus (alligators belong to the genus Alligator, while crocodiles belong to the genus Crocodylus). Still, they both belong to the order Crocodylia, which means they can both be called crocodilians.Here’s an example of alligator and crocodile used correctly in a sentence.Example: Florida is known for its population of alligators, although a few crocodiles also live in the extreme south.Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between alligators and crocodiles.
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