Dictionary

caiman en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈkeɪ.mən/

Etymology

From Spanish caimán or Portuguese caimão, from Kari'na acayouman.

Meanings

1. (qualifier:strictly) Any of the relatively small crocodilians of the genus Caiman, within the family Alligatoridae.
   • Newly hatched caimans eat insects. Young caimans are eaten by Jabirus, Wood Storks, Great Egrets, and raccoons. Adult caimans have no predators except human poachers. 2010, Carrol L. Henderson, Mammals, Amphibians, and Reptiles of Costa Rica: A Field Guide, page 164:
   • 2002, International Wildlife Encyclopedia: Brown bear - Cheetah, 3rd Edition, page 358, The caimans are found in South America, mainly in the Amazon basin, with one species extending into the southern part of Mexico and another reaching northern parts of Argentina.
   • Caimans are reptiles that are closely related to their Central and South American neighbors, the alligators. Adult caimans are usually four to six feet (1.8 m) in length. 1995, Laurie Agopian, Extended Thematic Unit: Rain Forest, page 32:
2. (broadly) A crocodilian of the subfamily Caimaninae, which includes the very large black caiman.
3. A semi-aquatic lizard, of the genus Dracaena, found in South America. To differentiate from crocodilian caimans, they are referred to as caiman lizards.

Forms

Deriveds

yacare caiman · broad-snouted caiman · Cayman Islands · caiman lizard · spectacled caiman · Cuvier's dwarf caiman

Relateds

croc · gator · crocodile · gavial · alligator · gharial

Translations (52)

ky кайман (alligator relative) · hu kajmán (alligator relative) · kk кайман (alligator relative) · mk кајман (alligator relative) · ja カイマン (alligator relative) · tr kayman (alligator relative) · es caimán (alligator relative) · cmn 凱門鱷 /凯门鳄 (alligator relative) · bg кайма́н (alligator relative) · pl kajman (alligator relative) · srn kaiman (alligator relative) · vi cá sấu (alligator relative) · ru кайма́н (alligator relative) · ko 카이만 (alligator relative) · fi kaimaani (alligator relative) · es yacaré (alligator relative) · et kaiman (alligator relative) · th เคแมน (alligator relative) · ca caiman (alligator relative) · it caimano (alligator relative) · nl kaaiman (alligator relative) · ro caiman (alligator relative) · eu kaiman (alligator relative) · nv bitseeʼ yee adiłhałii yázhí (alligator relative) · ast caimán (alligator relative) · de Kaiman (alligator relative) · fa کیمن (alligator relative) · pt caimão (alligator relative) · uk кайма́н (alligator relative) · ar كَيَامِن (alligator relative) · uz kayman (alligator relative) · no kaiman (alligator relative) · pt jacaré (alligator relative) · nci cipactli (alligator relative) · sk kajman (alligator relative) · car akare'u (alligator relative) · ka კაიმანი (alligator relative) · cy caiman (alligator relative) · fr caïman (alligator relative) · gl caimán (alligator relative) · tri ariwe (alligator relative) · sh кајман (alligator relative) · car akare (alligator relative) · yua áayin (alligator relative) · sh kajman (alligator relative) · eo kajmano (alligator relative) · hi कैमान (alligator relative) · ar كَيْمَن (alligator relative) · es taludín (alligator relative) · cs kajman (alligator relative) · be кайма́н (alligator relative) · sl kajman (alligator relative)