salamander

noun

sal·​a·​man·​der ˈsa-lə-ˌman-dər 

 also  ˌsa-lə-ˈman-

1

: a mythical animal having the power to endure fire without harm

2

: an elemental being in the theory of Paracelsus inhabiting fire

3

: any of numerous amphibians (order Caudata or Urodela) superficially resembling lizards but scaleless and covered with a soft moist skin and breathing by gills in the larval stage

4

: an article used in connection with fire: such as

a

: a cooking utensil for browning a food (such as pastry or pudding)

b

: a portable stove

c

: a cooking device with an overhead heat source like a broiler

5

: a mass of unfused material (such as metallic iron or partially reduced ore) in the hearth of a blast furnace

6

: the pocket gophers (genus Geomys) of the southeastern U.S.

salamandrine

ˌsa-lə-ˈman-drən 

adjective

Examples of salamander in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Amphibians, including frogs and salamanders, are more vulnerable, Urban found, perhaps because their habitats are more sensitive to environmental changes. —Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 7 Dec. 2024

Savvy Salamanders, 10 a.m., Mounds SRA (Brookville Lake), Brookville: Meet at the Camp Store to learn more about some of Indiana’s native salamanders and meet one of the park's resident ambassadors. —The Indianapolis Star, 11 July 2024

Experts are still exploring how some salamanders have evolved into paedomorphs — and how paedomorphism has given rise to so many giant salamander species. —Lily Carey, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2024

Today a herpetologist can identify each frog, toad and salamander in a creek by sifting through snippets of DNA in the merest vial of water. —Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English salamandre "a reptile believed to live in fire," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin salamandra, borrowed from Greek salamándra, probably of pre-Greek substratal origin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing salamander

• spotted salamander
• tiger salamander

Kids Definition

salamander

noun

sal·​a·​man·​der ˈsal-ə-ˌman-dər 

1

: an imaginary creature not harmed by fire

2

: any of an order of amphibians that are covered with scaleless usually smooth moist skin and look like lizards