chameleon

/kəˈmiljɪn/

/kəˈmiljən/

Other forms: chameleons

Look closely at that branch or leaf — you might be able to spot a chameleon hiding. These little lizards are able to change color and adapt to their backgrounds, blending in to hide from predators.

The history of the word chameleon goes back to the Greek word khamaileōn, which meant "lion on the ground," maybe because of the creature’s somewhat scary face, or maybe because the ridge around the creature’s head looks something like a lion’s mane. In Old French it became chaméléon, which stuck. Today there are two acceptable spellings, chameleon and chamaeleon. We often use the word today to refer to a person who is changeable or inconsistent.

Definitions of chameleon

1. noun

   lizard of Africa and Madagascar able to change skin color and having a projectile tongue
   synonyms: chamaeleon

   types:

   African chameleon, Chamaeleo chamaeleon

   a chameleon found in Africa

   Chamaeleo oweni, horned chameleon

   a kind of chameleon

   type of:

   lizard

   relatively long-bodied reptile with usually two pairs of legs and a tapering tail
2. noun

   a changeable or inconstant person
   type of:

   individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul

   a human being