Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Any of various tropical lizards of the family Chamaeleonidae, chiefly of Africa and Madagascar, having a prehensile tail, eyes that can move independently, and the ability to change color.
- noun An anole lizard, especially Anolis carolinensis of the southeast United States.
- noun A changeable or inconstant person.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Same as
chamæleon , 3. - noun A lizard-like reptile of the family Chamæleontidæ, having a naked body, a prehensile tail, feet suited for grasping branches, and the eye covered by a single circular eyelid with an aperture in the center.
- noun In the southern United States and West Indies, a true lizard of the family Anolididæ or Iguanidæ. Also
chamæleo . - noun [capitalized] A constellation invented by Bayer, situated beneath the feet of the Centaur.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Zoöl.) A lizardlike reptile of the genus Chamæleo, of several species, found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. The skin is covered with fine granulations; it has eyes which can move separately, the tail is prehensile, and the body is much compressed laterally, giving it a high back. It is remarkable for its ability to change the color of its skin to blend with its surroundings.
- noun a person who changes opinions, ideas, or behavior to suit the prevailing social climate; an opportunist.
- noun (Chem.) the compound called
potassium permanganate , a dark violet, crystalline substance, KMnO4, which in formation passes through a peculiar succession of color from green to blue, purple, red, etc. See Potassium permanganate, underPotassium .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A small to mid-size
reptile , of the familyChamaeleonidae , and one of the best knownlizard families able to change color and project its long tongue. - noun A person with
inconstant behavior; one able to quicklyadjust to newcircumstances . - adjective Describing something that
changes color .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun lizard of Africa and Madagascar able to change skin color and having a projectile tongue
- noun a faint constellation in the polar region of the southern hemisphere near Apus and Mensa
- noun a changeable or inconstant person
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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One of the most unusual studies we encountered has to do with what we call the chameleon effect.
Alvaro Fernandez: Why Smart Brains Make Stupid Decisions 2008
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Chase and others use the word chameleon to epitomize their impressions of McCain's running mate.
Jerilyn Bowen: Palin the Player: My Interview With Wasilla's Famous Palin Observer 2008
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Even the smallest chameleon is capable of eating a praying mantis.
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He cried aloud when he was referred to as a chameleon.
Voices Carry Mariah Stewart 2001
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Madam Rosamond Cavendish was, I suppose, a beauty, though after a strange and curious fashion, being seemingly dependent upon those around her for it, as a chameleon is dependent for his colour upon his surroundings.
The Heart's Highway: A Romance of Virginia in the Seventeenth Century 1900
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The next chapter in the life of the quintessentially English character of James Bond will be penned by U.S. author Jeffery Deaver, who believes he has the "chameleon" - like qualities to get inside 007's head.
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The next chapter in the life of the quintessentially English character of James Bond will be penned by U.S. author Jeffery Deaver, who believes he has the "chameleon" - like qualities to get inside 007's head.
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▌ Street smart There are several personality traits that are different and distinct to a successful profile as CPO - so many, in fact, that an effective CPO arguably needs to be a 'chameleon': PERSONALITY TRAITS Of A CPO ▌ 'natural' trading skills People who can successfully master this kind of 'chameleon' - ▌ Highly logical thinking capability like range of traits will invariably possess a highly developed eQ.
Recently Uploaded Slideshows markholyoake 2009
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Doctor Covington had just turned sixty, but still had a full head of what Mother called chameleon hair.
Olivia V.C.Andrews 2011
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Doctor Covington had just turned sixty, but still had a full head of what Mother called chameleon hair.
Olivia V.C.Andrews 2011
bilby commented on the word chameleon
"'I'm going now, and you can vote. But remember, you are all potentially chameleons of the spirit, and thus of all the illusions that rob men of their divinity this is the cruelest; to call the rocklike burdensome shell of 'character' and 'individuality' man's greatest development. It's like praising a boat for its anchor.'"
- 'The Dice Man', Luke Rhinehart.
February 4, 2008
bilby commented on the word chameleon
The chameleon changes his colour;
He can look like a tree or a wall;
He is timid and shy and hates to be seen,
So he simply sits down on the grass and grows green,
And pretends he is nothing at all.
- A. P. Herbert, 'The Chameleon'.
November 8, 2008