The AI-powered English dictionary
plural crocodiles
(loosely) a crocodilian, any species of the order Crocodilia, which also includes the alligators, caimans and gavials. quotations examples
Industrial and rural expansion is shrinking and destroying the Nile crocodile's natural habitat. The Nile crocodiles, in particular, have been a source of highly durable leather for a variety of products which can be crafted and manufactured.
2005, Mwelwa Musambachime, Basic Facts on Zambia, page 97
Two species of crocodile inhabit Australian waterways: (a) the saltwater Crocodile — Crocodylus porosus, and (b) the freshwater crocodile — Crocodylus johnstoni.
2008, Walkter B. Wood, “Chapter 16: Forensic Identification in Fatal Crocodile Attacks”, in Marc Oxenham, editor, Forensic Approaches to Death, Disaster and Abuse, page 244
One contained some brightly-coloured tropical birds, one a python and the other a large and very lively crocodile.I told the customer that the boxes containing the crocodile and the python were not packed to my satisfaction, as there were not enough nails securing them.
2011, Sam Thaker, The Crocodile's Teeth, page 31
A long line or procession of people (especially children) walking together. quotations examples
Sometimes the kids from the slap-up boys' schools in Eastbourne used to be led round in crocodiles to hand out fags and peppermint creams to the 'wounded Tommies', as they called us.
1939, George Orwell, Coming Up for Air, part 2, chapter 8
(logic) A fallacious dilemma, mythically supposed to have been first used by a crocodile. quotations examples
We have seen syllogisms, crocodiles, enthymemas, sorites, &c. explained and tried upon a boy of nine or ten years old in playful conversation […]
1798, Maria Edgeworth, Practical Education
third-person singular simple present crocodiles, present participle crocodiling, simple past and past participle crocodiled
(intransitive, slang) To speak one's native language at an Esperanto-language gathering, rather than Esperanto.