dragon

[ drag-uhn ]

noun

1. a mythical monster generally represented as a huge, winged reptile with crested head and enormous claws and teeth, and often spouting fire.
2. Archaic. a huge serpent or snake.
3. Bible. a large animal, possibly a large snake or crocodile.
4. the dragon, Satan.
5. a fierce, violent person.
6. a very watchful and strict woman; duenna.
7. flying dragon.
8. Botany. any of several araceous plants, as Arisaema dracontium green dragon, or dragonroot, the flowers of which have a long, slender spadix and a green, shorter spathe.
9. a short musket carried by a mounted infantryman in the 16th and 17th centuries.
10. a soldier armed with such a musket. dragoon ( defs 1, 2, 3 ).
11. Dragon, Astronomy. the constellation Draco.

dragon

/ ˈdræɡən /

noun

1. a mythical monster usually represented as breathing fire and having a scaly reptilian body, wings, claws, and a long tail
2. informal.
   a fierce or intractable person, esp a woman
3. any of various very large lizards, esp the Komodo dragon
4. any of various North American aroid plants, esp the green dragon
5. Christianity a manifestation of Satan or an attendant devil
6. a yacht of the International Dragon Class, 8.88m long (29.2 feet), used in racing
7. chase the dragon slang.
   to smoke opium or heroin

Derived Forms

• ˈdragonish, adjective
• ˈdragoness, noun:feminine

Other Words From

• drag·on·ish adjective
• drag·on·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dragon¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin dracōn- (stem of dracō ), from Greek drákōn the name of a kind of serpent, probably originally an epithet, “the (sharp-)sighted one,” akin to dérkesthai “to look”

Word History and Origins

Origin of dragon¹

C13: from Old French, from Latin dracō, from Greek drakōn; related to drakos eye

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. chase the dragon, Slang. to inhale the vapor of heated heroin or another opiate drug.

Example Sentences

The large cast contains so many magnificent voices that I would love to report in detail about the performers who in “Four Black Dragons” vividly chronicle the growing military menace.

From Los Angeles Times

While she is best known for her work on Disney Channel, Jackson’s TV career also includes voice acting roles in the children‘s series “Bubble Guppies,” “Dora the Explorer” and “Dragons: Rescue Riders.”

From Los Angeles Times

The development will see the existing Red Dragon Centre demolished and replaced with the new arena and theatre space, as well as council offices, exhibition halls and community areas.

From BBC

Meanwhile, SpaceX was awarded a smaller contract to develop a crewed capsule, based on its existing Cargo Dragon capsule, and that craft has made more than a dozen trips to the station.

From Los Angeles Times

It was the juxtaposition of Mara’s potent, sinewy turn in “The Girl with Dragon Tattoo” and the nuanced fragility she exuded in “Carol” that confirmed his admiration for her performances.

From Los Angeles Times