noun

reptile

reptile

Snakes and lizards are reptiles.

Snakes and lizards are reptiles.

He keeps a pet reptile in a tank.

He keeps a pet reptile in a tank.

((a/an + reptile)) a cold-blooded vertebrate animal of a class that includes snakes, lizards, etc. He keeps a pet reptile in a tank.

Examples: snake, lizard, crocodile, turtle

From Latin 'repere' (to creep, to crawl). A reptile is a 'creeping animal'.

Picture a snake 'creeping' along the ground. The word sounds a bit like 'creep-tile'.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.