noun
small family of spiny ovoviviparous African lizards
• Syn: ↑family Cordylidae
• Hypernyms: ↑reptile genus
• Member Holonyms: ↑Sauria, ↑suborder Sauria, ↑Lacertilia, ↑suborder Lacertilia
• Member Meronyms: ↑Cordylus, ↑genus Cordylus
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\\kȯ(r)ˈdiləˌdē\ noun pluralUsage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from Cordylus, type genus (from Greek kordylos water newt) + -idae; probably akin to Greek kordylē bump, swelling — more at cardinal
: a small family of spiny ovoviviparous African lizards somewhat resembling tiny crocodiles
Useful english dictionary. 2012.