crocodile

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A large tropical reptile with a long body, strong jaws and thick skin, living in rivers and lakes.

   Grammar: Countable: 'a crocodile', 'two crocodiles'. Note the spelling: one 'c', then 'roc', then 'odile'.

   Patterns

   • a crocodile in the river
   • be attacked by a crocodile

   We saw a crocodile sunbathing on the bank of the river.

   Crocodiles can move very fast when they hunt.

   Never swim in that lake — there are crocodiles in it.

2. 2noununcountable

   The skin of this animal, used to make shoes, bags and belts.

   Grammar: No plural when it means the material: 'made of crocodile'.

   Patterns

   • made of crocodile
   • a crocodile handbag

   She carried an expensive crocodile handbag.

   The boots are made of real crocodile.

3. 3nouncountableBritish

   A line of people, especially children, walking in pairs.

   Grammar: Mainly British; usually in the phrase 'in a crocodile'.

   Patterns

   • walk in a crocodile
   • a crocodile of children

   The children walked to the museum in a crocodile.

   A crocodile of schoolchildren crossed the road.

Word forms

Common combinations

a crocodile of children

A crocodile of children made its way to the park.

crocodile tears

Don't believe his apology — those are crocodile tears.

crocodile skin

The wallet is made of crocodile skin.

crocodile-infested river

They avoided the crocodile-infested river.

Synonyms and how they differ

alligator

A similar animal found mainly in the US and China; it has a wider, shorter snout than a crocodile.

croc

Informal short form, common in headlines and everyday speech.

Word family

crocodilian noun

A member of the crocodile family, used in scientific writing.

Commonly confused: crocodile or alligator?

Practice

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