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Definition of house gecko
house gecko
Plural:house geckos
house gecko Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A small, primarily nocturnal lizard that frequently inhabits human dwellings in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, noted for its specialized toe pads that allow it to scale smooth vertical surfaces and ceilings.
Example
"The house gecko darted across the ceiling to catch a moth fluttering near the porch light."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for house gecko• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A descriptive compound of 'house' and 'gecko', referring to the reptile's frequent habitation of human dwellings. The word 'gecko' itself derives from the Malay word 'gekoq', which is an imitation of the animal's distinct chirping call.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of House gecko. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/house gecko