— chameleonic /keuh mee'lee on"ik/ , adj. — chameleonlike , adj.
/keuh mee"lee euhn, -meel"yeuhn/ , n.
1. any of numerous Old World lizards of the family Chamaeleontidae, characterized by the ability to change the color of their skin, very slow locomotion, and a projectile tongue.
2. any of several American lizards capable of changing the color of the skin, esp. Anolis carolinensis (American chameleon) , of the southeastern U.S.
3. a changeable, fickle, or inconstant person.
4. ( cap. ) Astron. Chamaeleon.
[ 1300-50; var. of chamaeleon chamailéon, equiv. to chamaí on the ground, dwarf (akin to HUMUS) + léon LION; r. ME camelion ]