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Definition of gliding lizard
gliding lizard
Plural:gliding lizards
gliding lizard Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
7
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
An arboreal agamid lizard of the genus Draco, native to the forests of Southeast Asia and southern India, characterized by wing-like skin extensions (patagia) supported by elongated ribs that allow it to glide between trees.
Example
"While hiking in the Philippine rainforest, the biology students were thrilled to see a gliding lizard leap from the canopy and sail gracefully to an adjacent tree trunk."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for gliding lizard• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A descriptive compound phrase derived from the English verb 'glide' (Old English 'glīdan') and 'lizard' (from Old French 'lesard', ultimately from Latin 'lacertus'). Used primarily to describe the genus Draco due to its unique method of aerial locomotion.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gliding lizard. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gliding lizard