dragon

noun

drag·​on ˈdra-gən 

1

archaic : a huge serpent

2

: a mythical animal usually represented as a monstrous winged and scaly serpent or saurian with a crested head and enormous claws

3

: a violent, combative, or very strict person

4

capitalized : draco

5

: something or someone formidable or baneful

dragonish

ˈdra-gə-nish 

adjective

Examples of dragon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In all, Arndt and his neighbor rescued 15 people, 10 pets, and a bearded dragon, Morris said. —Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Nov. 2024

The animals most affected included large lizards like land mullets and eastern water dragons and snakes like the red-bellied blacksnake. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

Eyes peered out from behind the trees, and visitors soon spotted sculpted wildlife such as elephants, dragons and giant turtles. —Lanta Davis and Vince Reighard, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2024

But the potential payoff—unlimited clean power—has prompted around 50 startups to chase this dragon. —Steven Levy, WIRED, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French dragun, from Latin dracon-, draco serpent, dragon, from Greek drakōn serpent; akin to Old English torht bright, Greek derkesthai to see, look at

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dragon

• dragon fruit
• dragon lady
• dragon's blood
• dragon's teeth
• green dragon
• Komodo dragon

Kids Definition

dragon

noun

drag·​on ˈdrag-ən 

1

: an imaginary animal usually pictured as a huge serpent or lizard with wings and large claws

2

capitalized : draco

Etymology

Middle English dragon "dragon," from early French dragun (same meaning), from Latin dracon-, draco "serpent, dragon," from Greek drakōn "serpent" — related to rankle