Chamaeleon

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Chamaeleon \Chamaeleon\ n. (Astronomy)
     a small constellation in the southern skies between Hydrus
     and Musca.
  
     Syn: Chameleon.
          [PJC] Chamaeleonidae



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  chamaeleon \chamaeleon\ n. [L. Chamaeleon, Gr. chamaile`wn,
     lit., "ground lion;" chamai` on the ground + le`wn lion.]
     (Zool.)
     a lizard of Africa and Madagascar able to change skin color
     and having a projectile tongue.
  
     Syn: chameleon.
          [WordNet 1.5]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Chameleon \Cha*me"le*on\ (k[.a]*m[=e]"l[-e]*[u^]n), n. [L.
     Chamaeleon, Gr. chamaile`wn, lit., "ground lion;" chamai` on
     the ground + le`wn lion. See {Humble}, and {Lion}.] (Zool.)
     1. A lizardlike reptile of the genus {Cham[ae]leo}, of
        several species, found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. The
        skin is covered with fine granulations; it has eyes which
        can move separately, the tail is prehensile, and the body
        is much compressed laterally, giving it a high back. It is
        remarkable for its ability to change the color of its skin
        to blend with its surroundings. [Also sometimes spelled
        {chamaeleon}.]
        [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     Note: Its color changes more or less with the color of the
           objects about it, or with its temper when disturbed. In
           a cool, dark place it is nearly white, or grayish; on
           admitting the light, it changes to brown, bottle-green,
           or blood red, of various shades, and more or less
           mottled in arrangment. The American chameleons belong
           to {Anolis} and allied genera of the family
           {Iguanid[ae]}. They are more slender in form than the
           true chameleons, but have the same power of changing
           their colors.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. a person who changes opinions, ideas, or behavior to suit
        the prevailing social climate; an opportunist.
        [PJC]
  
     {Chameleon mineral} (Chem.), the compound called {potassium
        permanganate}, a dark violet, crystalline substance,
        {KMnO4}, which in formation passes through a peculiar
        succession of color from green to blue, purple, red, etc.
        See {Potassium permanganate}, under {Potassium}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  Chamaeleon
       n 1: a faint constellation in the polar region of the southern
            hemisphere near Apus and Mensa [syn: {Chameleon}]
       2: lizard of Africa and Madagascar able to change skin color
          and having a projectile tongue [syn: {chameleon}]