/ ˈkrɒkədaɪl; NAmE ˈkrɑːk-/ (also informal croc ) noun
1.
[ C ] a large reptile with a long tail, hard skin and very big jaws . Crocodiles live in rivers and lakes in hot countries.
2.
[ U ] crocodile skin made into leather :
crocodile shoes
3.
[ C ] ( BrE ) a long line of people, especially children, walking in pairs
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IDIOMS
- crocodile tears
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English cocodrille , cokadrill , from Old French cocodrille , via medieval Latin from Latin crocodilus , from Greek krokodilos worm of the stones, from krokē pebble + drilos worm. The spelling was changed in the 16th cent. to conform with the Latin and Greek forms.