Also see definition of "chameleon" in Bible Study Dictionaries
Word Study
chameleon
CIDE DICTIONARY
chameleon, n. [L. Chamaeleon, Gr. chamaile`wn, lit., “ground lion;” chamai` on the ground + le`wn lion. See Humble, and Lion.].
- A lizardlike reptile of the genus
Chamæleo , 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. [1913 Webster]" 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 toAnolis and allied genera of the familyIguanidæ . They are more slender in form than the true chameleons, but have the same power of changing their colors." [1913 Webster] - a person who changes opinions, ideas, or behavior to suit the prevailing social climate; an opportunist. [PJC]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
chameleon, n.
1 any of a family of small lizards having grasping tails, long tongues, protruding eyes, and the power of changing colour.
2 a variable or inconstant person.
1 any of a family of small lizards having grasping tails, long tongues, protruding eyes, and the power of changing colour.
2 a variable or inconstant person.
Derivative
chameleonic adj.
Etymology
ME f. L f. Gk khamaileon f. khamai on the ground + leon lion
THESAURUS
chameleon
April showers, Dalmatian, Gila monster, Proteus, Vicar of Bray, agama, alligator, anole, antigorite, bearded lizard, blindworm, box turtle, butterfly, butterfly agama, candy cane, cayman, cheetah, chrysotile, cloud shapes, confetti, crazy quilt, crocodile, diamondback, dragon, false map turtle, firedog, flying dragon, formalist, gavial, gecko, girdle-tailed lizard, glass snake, green turtle, harlequin, hawksbill, hawksbill turtle, iguana, iris, jaguar, kaleidoscope, leatherback, leopard, lizard, mackerel, mackerel sky, marble, marbled paper, matamata, mercury, moire, monitor, moon, mother-of-pearl, mugger, nacre, ocelot, opal, ophite, patchwork quilt, peacock, quicksilver, rainbow, rolling stone, sea turtle, serpentine, serpentine marble, shifting sands, shot silk, soft-shelled turtle, spectrum, stump tail, teju, temporizer, terrapin, the weather, timepleaser, timeserver, tortoise, tortoise shell, trimmer, tuatara, turtle, water, weather vane, weathercock, wheel of fortune, whirligig, zebraROGET THESAURUS
chameleon
Changeableness
N changeableness, mutability, inconstancy, versatility, mobility, instability, unstable equilibrium, vacillation, fluctuation, vicissitude, alternation, restlessness, fidgets, disquiet, disquietude, inquietude, unrest, agitation, moon, Proteus, chameleon, quicksilver, shifting sands, weathercock, harlequin, Cynthia of the minute, April showers, wheel of Fortune, transientness, changeable, changeful, changing, mutable, variable, checkered, ever changing, protean, proteiform, versatile, unstaid, inconstant, unsteady, unstable, unfixed, unsettled, fluctuating, restless, agitated, erratic, fickle, irresolute, capricious, touch and go, inconsonant, fitful, spasmodic, vibratory, vagrant, wayward, desultory, afloat, alternating, alterable, plastic, mobile, transient, wavering, seesaw, off and on, a rolling stone gathers no moss, pictra mossa non fa muschis, honores mutant mores, varium et mutabile semper femina.Variegation
N variegation, colors, dichroism, trichroism, iridescence, play of colors, polychrome, maculation, spottiness, striae, spectrum, rainbow, iris, tulip, peacock, chameleon, butterfly, tortoise shell, mackerel, mackerel sky, zebra, leopard, cheetah, nacre, ocelot, ophite, mother-of-pearl, opal, marble, check, plaid, tartan, patchwork, marquetry-, parquetry, mosaic, tesserae, strigae, chessboard, checkers, chequers, harlequin, Joseph's coat, tricolor, variegated, many-colored, many-hued, divers-colored, party- colored, dichromatic, polychromatic, bicolor, tricolor, versicolor, of all the colors of the rainbow, of all manner of colors, kaleidoscopic, iridescent, opaline, opalescent, prismatic, nacreous, pearly, shot, gorge de pigeon, chatoyant, irisated, pavonine, pied, piebald, motley, mottled, marbled, pepper and salt, paned, dappled, clouded, cymophanous, mosaic, tesselated, plaid, tortoise shell, spotted, spotty, punctated, powdered, speckled, freckled, flea-bitten, studded, flecked, fleckered, striated, barred, veined, brinded, brindled, tabby, watered, grizzled, listed, embroidered, daedal, naevose, stipiform, strigose, striolate, (iii) PERCEPTIONS OF LIGHT.Also see definition of "chameleon" in Bible Study Dictionaries
For further exploring for "chameleon" in Webster Dictionary Online
