iguana

[ ih-gwah-nuh ]

noun

1. a large, arboreal lizard, Iguana iguana, native to Central and South America, having stout legs and a crest of spines from neck to tail.
2. any of various related lizards of the genera Iguana, Ctenosaura, Conolophus, and Amblyrhynchus.

iguana

/ ɪˈɡwɑːnə /

noun

1. either of two large tropical American arboreal herbivorous lizards of the genus Iguana, esp I. iguana ( common iguana ), having a greyish-green body with a row of spines along the back: family Iguanidae
2. Also callediguanidɪˈɡwɑːnɪd any other lizard of the tropical American family Iguanidae
3. another name for leguaan

Derived Forms

• iˈguanian, nounadjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of iguana¹

1545–55; < Spanish < Arawak iwana

Word History and Origins

Origin of iguana¹

C16: from Spanish, from Arawak iwana

Example Sentences

The less popular pet species — your gerbils, iguanas, and cockatoos — should be grateful.

From Salon

The Hi-Port ceiling rack is intended for kayaks, but one customer used it to hold their iguana cage and made a whole home on the ceiling for their reptile.

From Seattle Times

The last person to spot land iguanas on the Galapagos island of Santiago was Charles Darwin – in 1835.

From NewsForKids.net

An iguana grabbed a ball at the 2014 Puerto Rico Open.

From Seattle Times

What is it about your dog, cat, fish or iguana that really brings you joy?

From Seattle Times