anole

noun

ano·​le ə-ˈnō-lē How to pronounce anole (audio)
: any of a genus (Anolis) of arboreal American lizards (such as the green anole) of the iguana family that have a brightly colored dewlap and the ability to change color

Examples of anole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The wee anole relies mostly on camouflage to hide from predators such as birds, snakes, mammals and other lizards. —Katie Hunt, CNN, 21 Sep. 2024 Anolis aquaticus, or the water anole, is a common lizard species native to Central America. —New Atlas, 22 Sep. 2024 But no one had figured out whether the animals were using these air pockets to prolong their underwater sojourns, which in wild water anoles can last up to 16 minutes. —Bysean Cummings, science.org, 17 Sep. 2024 The researcher applied an emollient (otherwise known as a moisturizer) to the skin of some anoles, which prevents air bubbles from sticking to them. —New Atlas, 22 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for anole 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French anolis, borrowed from Dominica Island Carib anáoli

Note: The word apparently first appears solely in the form anolis in the anonymous Histoire naturelle et morale des Iles Antilles de l'Amerique (Rotterdam, 1658), attributed to a Huguenot clergyman named Charles de Rochefort (1605-83). In the text (p. 130-31) the word is only used in the plural, so that the singular is ambiguous, but an illustration of a single lizard on p. 135 has the caption Anolis. The form anolis, again only in the plural but without the illustration, is reproduced in an English translation by John Davies of Histoire naturelle et morale, entitled The History of the Caribby-Islands (London, 1666), p. 75 ("The Anolis are very common in all the Plantations: they are about the bigness and length of the Lizzards seen in France …"). Though it occurs but rarely, the singular is anolis in European vernaculars and Latin generally until 1750, when anoli appears in the Manuel lexique, ou Dictionnaire portatif des mots françois attributed to the Abbé Prévost. The English form anole does not seem to be attested before the nineteenth century. Island Carib anáoli ("ce lezart icy est gros comme un gros baston & long d'une coudée" - "this lizard is thick as a thick stick and a cubit in length") is from Raymond Breton's 1665 Dictionnaire caraïbe-français, a lexicon of Lesser Antillean Arawak.

First Known Use

1745, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anole was in 1745

Phrases Containing anole

Dictionary Entries Near anole

anointing of the sick

anole

Anolis

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Anole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anole. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

anole

noun
ano·​le ə-ˈnō-lē How to pronounce anole (audio)
: any of various chiefly tropical lizards that are able to change color and in the males have a usually brightly colored flap of skin on the throat

More from Merriam-Webster on anole

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about anole

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

9 Superb Owl Words

15 Words That Used to Mean Something Different
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
sweet smart pug puppy dog sitting in front of blackboard with chalk question marks
Commonly Confused Words Quiz Vol. 3 Do you have a (flare/flair) for choosing the righ...