caiman
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From Spanish caimán or Portuguese caimão, from Kari'na acayouman.[1]
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
caiman (plural caimans)
- (strictly) Any of the relatively small crocodilians of the genus Caiman, within the family Alligatoridae.
- 1995, Laurie Agopian, Extended Thematic Unit: Rain Forest, page 32:
- Caimans are reptiles that are closely related to their Central and South American neighbors, the alligators. Adult caimans are usually four to six feet (1.8 m) in length.
- 2002, International Wildlife Encyclopedia: Brown bear - Cheetah, 3rd Edition, page 358,
- The caimans are found in South America, mainly in the Amazon basin, with one species extending into the southern part of Mexico and another reaching northern parts of Argentina.
- 2010, Carrol L. Henderson, Mammals, Amphibians, and Reptiles of Costa Rica: A Field Guide, page 164:
- Newly hatched caimans eat insects. Young caimans are eaten by Jabirus, Wood Storks, Great Egrets, and raccoons. Adult caimans have no predators except human poachers.
- (loosely) A crocodilian of the subfamily Caimaninae, which includes the very large black caiman.
- A semi-aquatic lizard, of the genus Dracaena, found in South America. To differentiate from caimans, they are referred to as caiman lizards.
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
alligator relative
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See also edit
References edit
- ^ “caiman”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
Further reading edit
Anagrams edit
Catalan edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from Spanish caimán, from Kari'na acayuman.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
caiman m (plural caimans)
Derived terms edit
Further reading edit
- “caiman” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
Romanian edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
caiman m (plural caimani)
Declension edit
Declension of caiman
singular | plural | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
indefinite articulation | definite articulation | indefinite articulation | definite articulation | |
nominative/accusative | (un) caiman | caimanul | (niște) caimani | caimanii |
genitive/dative | (unui) caiman | caimanului | (unor) caimani | caimanilor |
vocative | caimanule | caimanilor |