/ ˈreptaɪl; NAmE ; NAmE also -tl/ noun
any animal that has cold blood and skin covered in scales , and that lays eggs. Snakes, crocodiles and tortoises are all reptiles.
—compare amphibian
► rep·til·ian / repˈtɪliən; NAmE / adjective :
our reptilian ancestors
( figurative )
He licked his lips in an unpleasantly reptilian way.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from late Latin , neuter of reptilis , from Latin rept- crawled, from the verb repere .