n. 1 Zool. any tailed newtlike amphibian of the order Urodela, esp. the genus Salamandra, once thought able to endure fire. 2 a mythical lizard-like creature credited with this property. 3 US = GOPHER(1) 1. 4 an elemental spirit living in fire. 5 a red-hot iron used for lighting pipes, gunpowder, etc. 6 a metal plate heated and placed over food to brown it. salamandrian adj. salamandrine adj. salamandroid adj. & n. (in sense 1).
[ ME f. OF salamandre f. L salamandra f. Gk salamandra ]