reptile

[ɹɪpˈtaɪl]
[ˈɹɛp.taɪl]
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A reptile is an animal with scales and usually no legs. They are often cold-blooded, which means their body temperature changes with the environment.

When people talk about reptiles, they usually mean animals like snakes, lizards, or turtles. Some common places you might find these creatures are in zoos, pet stores, or even on a trip to the beach where there might be geckos scurrying around. If someone is interested in wildlife or has pets that need special care, reptiles often come up in conversation as unusual but fascinating animals.

How common is "reptile"?

Word reptile is considered rare in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
Definitions

noun

  • A cold-blooded vertebrate of the class Reptilia.

1 / 2

adjective

  • Creeping; moving on the belly, or by means of small and short legs.

1 / 2
crawlingcreepingreptiliousreptitious

Real examples of "reptile" in context

Bowl image

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