Chameleon Definition

kə-mēlyən, -mēlē-ən
chameleons
noun
chameleons
Any of various Old World lizards (family Chamaeleontidae) with an angular head, prehensile tail, eyes that move independently of each other, the ability to change skin color rapidly, and a long, agile tongue for catching prey.
Webster's New World
An anole lizard, especially Anolis carolinensis of the southeast United States.
American Heritage
Any of various superficially similar lizards that can change the color of their skin, as the American chameleon.
Webster's New World
A changeable or fickle person.
Webster's New World

(physics) A hypothetical scalar particle with a non-linear self-interaction, giving it an effective mass that depends on its environment: the presence of other fields.

Wiktionary
adjective

Describing something that changes color.

The wall was covered with a chameleon paint.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Chameleon

Noun

Singular:
chameleon
Plural:
chameleons

Origin of Chameleon

  • Middle English camelioun from Latin chamaeleōn from Greek khamaileōn khamai on the ground dhghem- in Indo-European roots leōn lion (translation of Akkadian nēš qaqqari ground lion, lizard) (Akkadian nēšu lion) (Akkadian qaqqari) (genitive of qaqqaru the earth, ground) lion

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English camelion, from Old French cameleon, from Latin chamaeleon, from Ancient Greek χαμαιλέων (khamaileōn), from χαμαί (khamai, “on the earth, on the ground”) + λέων (leon, “lion”). Spelling relatinized early 18c.

    From Wiktionary

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