Definitions for: Chameleon

[n] lizard of Africa and Madagascar able to change skin color and having a projectile tongue
[n] a faint constellation in the polar region of the southern hemisphere near Apus and Mensa

Webster (1913) Definition: Cha*me"le*on (k[.a]*m[=e]"l[-e]*[u^]n), n. [L.
Chamaeleon, Gr. chamaile`wn, lit., ``ground lion;'' chamai`
on the ground + le`wn lion. See Humble, and Lion.]
(Zo["o]l.)
A lizardlike reptile of the genus Cham[ae]leo, of several
species, found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. The skin is
covered with fine granulations; the tail is prehensile, and
the body is much compressed laterally, giving it a high back.

Note: 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
to Anolis and allied genera of the family
Iguanid[ae]. They are more slender in form than the
true chameleons, but have the same power of changing
their colors.

Chameleon mineral (Chem.), the compound called {potassium
permanganate}, a dark violet, crystalline substance,
KMnO4, which in formation passes through a peculiar
succession of color from green to blue, purple, red, etc.
See Potassium permanganate, under Potassium.

Synonyms: Chamaeleon, chamaeleon

See Also: African chameleon, Chamaeleo chamaeleon, Chamaeleo oweni, Chamaeleonidae, Chamaeleontidae, constellation, family Chamaeleonidae, family Chamaeleontidae, family Rhiptoglossa, horned chameleon, lizard, Rhiptoglossa

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