VARAN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does varan mean? 

• VARAN (noun)
  The noun VARAN has 1 sense:

1. any of various large tropical carnivorous lizards of Africa and Asia and Australia; fabled to warn of crocodiles

  Familiarity information: VARAN used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VARAN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of various large tropical carnivorous lizards of Africa and Asia and Australia; fabled to warn of crocodiles

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

monitor; monitor lizard; varan

Hypernyms ("varan" is a kind of...):

lizard (relatively long-bodied reptile with usually two pairs of legs and a tapering tail)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "varan"):

African monitor; Varanus niloticus (destroys crocodile eggs)

dragon lizard; giant lizard; Komodo dragon; Komodo lizard; Varanus komodoensis (the largest lizard in the world (10 feet); found on Indonesian islands)

Holonyms ("varan" is a member of...):

genus Varanus; Varanus (type and sole extant genus of the Varanidae)