Chameleon

Cha·me·leon  (k-mlyn, -ml-n)

n.

Variant of Chamaeleon.

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cha·me·leon  (k-mlyn, -ml-n)

n.

1. Any of various tropical Old World lizards of the family Chamaeleonidae, characterized by their ability to change color.

2. See anole.

3. A changeable or inconstant person: "In his testimony, the nominee came off as . . . a chameleon of legal philosophy" (Joseph A. Califano, Jr.)

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[Middle English camelioun, from Latin chamaelen, from Greek khamailen : khamai, on the ground; see dhghem- in Indo-European roots + len, lion (loan translation of Akkadian n qaqqari, ground lion, lizard); see lion.]

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cha·mele·onic (-l-nk) adj.

Word History: The words referring to the animal chameleon and the plant chamomile are related etymologically by a reference to the place one would expect to find them, that is, on the ground. The first part of both words goes back to the Greek form khamai, meaning "on the ground." What is found on the ground in each case is quite different, of course. The khamailen is a "lion [len] on the ground," a term translating the Akkadian phrase n qaqqari. The khamaimlon is "an apple [mlon] on the ground," so named because the blossoms of at least one variety of this creeping herb have an applelike scent. Both words are first found in Middle English, chameleon in a work composed before 1382 and chamomile in a work written in 1373.

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chameleon [kəˈmiːlɪən]

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any lizard of the family Chamaeleontidae of Africa and Madagascar, having long slender legs, a prehensile tail and tongue, and the ability to change colour

2. a changeable or fickle person

[from Latin chamaeleon, from Greek khamaileōn, from khamai on the ground + leōn lion]

chameleonic  [kəˌmiːlɪˈɒnɪk] adj

chameleon-like  adj

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	chameleon - a changeable or inconstant person     individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do"
	2.	Chameleon - a faint constellation in the polar region of the southern hemisphere near Apus and Mensa Chamaeleon
	3.	chameleon - lizard of Africa and Madagascar able to change skin color and having a projectile tongue chamaeleon lizard - relatively long-bodied reptile with usually two pairs of legs and a tapering tail Chamaeleonidae, Chamaeleontidae, family Chamaeleonidae, family Chamaeleontidae, family Rhiptoglossa, Rhiptoglossa - Old World chameleons; in some classifications they are considered a superfamily of Sauria African chameleon, Chamaeleo chamaeleon - a chameleon found in Africa Chamaeleo oweni, horned chameleon - a kind of chameleon

Translations

chameleon [kəˈmiːlɪən] N → camaleón m

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chameleon [kəˈmiːliən] n (= animal) → caméléon m

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chameleon

n (Zool, fig) → Chamäleon nt

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chameleon [kəˈmiːlɪən] n → camaleonte m

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chameleon [kəˈmiːlɪən] n → camaleonte m

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chameleon

n chameleon [kəˈmiːliən]

a small lizard which is able to change colour. verkleurmannetjie, trapsuutjies حِرْباء хамелеон chameleon kamæleon das Chamäleon χαμαιλέων camaleón kameeleon مارمولکی که رنگ پوستش را تغییر می دهد kameleontti caméléon זִיקִית गिर्गिट kameleon kaméleon bunglon kameljón camaleonte カメレオン 카멜레온 chameleonas hameleons sesumpah kameleon kameleon kameleon camaleão cameleon хамелеон chameleón kameleon kameleon kameleont สัตว์จำพวกกิ้งก่า bukalemun 變色蜥蜴，變色龍 хамелеон گرگٹ tắc kè hoa 变色蜥蜴，变色龙