I. ˈalə̇ˌgād.ə(r), -ēˌg-, -ātə- noun
Etymology: alteration of earlier aligarto, alagarto, from Spanish el lagarto the lizard, from el the (from Latin ille that) + lagarto lizard, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin lacartus, from Latin lacertus, lacerta — more at lizard
1. -s
a. : either of two loricates comprising the genus Alligator having broad heads not tapering to the snout and a special pocket in the upper jaw for reception of the enlarged lower fourth tooth and being in general much more sluggish than the typical crocodiles (genus Crocodylus )
b. : caiman
c. : loricate
2. capitalized
[New Latin, from English]
: the genus of Crocodylidae comprising the American and Chinese alligators
3. -s : any of various animals that resemble alligators (as an alligator lizard, a hellbender, or a hellgramite)
4. -s : leather made from alligator's hide
a handbag of alligator
5. -s : a machine with strong jaws (as a crocodile squeezer or rock breaker) one of which opens like the movable jaw of an alligator
alligator squeezer
6. -s
a. : a boat used in handling floating logs and provided with a windlass and cable for being drawn overland
b. : a small sled often made from the fork of a tree and used as an aid in skidding logs — called also crotch, go-devil, lizard, travois
7. -s : a devotee of swing music
[s]alligato.jpg[/s] [
alligator 1a
]
II. adjective
1. : of, relating to, or like an alligator ; specifically : marked with a design resembling that of the skin of an alligator
alligator cloth
2. : opening like an alligator's jaws
alligator forceps
III. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to develop intersecting cracks and ridges — used of films of paint, varnish, and similar coatings