alligator

Noun

alligator (plural alligators)

1. Either of two species of large amphibious reptile, Alligator mississippiensis or Alligator sinensis, in the genus Alligator within order Crocodilia, which have sharp teeth and very strong jaws and are native to the Americas and China, respectively.
   • All you could see of the alligator were two eyes above the water, then suddenly it snatched up and caught the poor bird with strong jaws full of sharp teeth.
   • Alligators and crocodiles look extremely alike.
     The main distinguishing feature is the teeth. In a crocodile the teeth in its upper and lower jaws are in line, but in an alligator, when its mouth is shut, the upper teeth lie outside the lower ones.2002, Maurice Burton, Robert Burton, International Wildlife Encyclopedia, page 38

   Synonyms:

   gator

2. A crocodilian of the subfamily Alligatorinae.
3. (Nigeria) A dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)
4. (dated) A crocodile of any species.
   • Alligators were very numerous, in fact the harbour was infested by them.1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 88
5. A form of squeezer for the puddle ball.
6. A rock breaker.
7. A kind of job press.
8. Any of various vehicles that have relatively long, low noses in front of a cab or other, usually windowed, structure.
9. (plural-normally) An alligator-skin shoe.
10. (US, dated, slang) A swing music fan or performer, especially one who is white.

Verb

alligator (third-person singular simple present alligators, present participle alligatoring, simple past and past participle alligatored)

1. (intransitive) To crack in a pattern resembling an alligator's skin.
   • Alligatoring is a result of the sun making the top surface of the asphalt brittle.2003, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Essentials of Home Inspection: Roofing, page 24
   • Sealing an area that is alligatoring is a temporary solution that may delay having to replace the asphalt for several years. A more permanent repair would be to replace the alligatored section.2004, James E. Piper, Handbook of Facility Assessment, page 39

Interjection

1. Used in a common chronometric counting scheme, in which the speaker counts out loud, saying the word "alligator" between the numbers so that each number is spoken approximately one second after the last one.
   • The same way people will count the seconds between lightning and thunder, I counted the seconds between coughs. One-alligator, two-alligator, three-alligator.2013, Chuck Palahniuk, “December 21, 9:33 A.M. CST”, in Doomed