alligator
alligator — noun
- alligatorsingular
- alligatorsplural
1. a large reptile with thick, hard skin, a long tail, and very strong jaws. Alliga
a large reptile with thick, hard skin, a long tail, and very strong jaws. Alligators live in or near rivers, lakes, and swamps in warm parts of the Americas and China. They have a wider, rounder snout than crocodiles.
Theo spotted a large alligator lying on the muddy riverbank near his kayak.
collocation: spotted an alligator
Alligators usually hunt at night, when their prey cannot see them clearly in the dark water.
general fact pattern: alligators + verb (present simple)
The old alligator hid under the murky water, leaving only its eyes and nostrils above the surface.
Ravi warned the children not to swim in the lake because a large alligator lived near the southern shore.
- caiman
a smaller relative of the alligator, found in Central and South America — not the same animal
文法句型
a [size/age] alligator
alligators [verb indicating animal behaviour]
用法筆記
Countable noun. The plural form 'alligators' is common when referring to the species in general. Often confused with 'crocodile' — an alligator has a wider, U-shaped snout and lives only in the Americas and China, while crocodiles have a narrower, V-shaped snout and are found in many tropical regions worldwide.
常見錯誤
2. strong, expensive leather made from the skin of alligators, used to make high-en
strong, expensive leather made from the skin of alligators, used to make high-end shoes, bags, belts, wallets, and other luxury accessories.
Priya bought a beautiful brown alligator belt for her father's sixtieth birthday.
attributive noun: alligator + belt
The store sells wallets, shoes, and bags made from genuine alligator skin.
passive: made from genuine alligator skin
Elena chose an alligator wallet because it was stronger than her old cow leather one.
Customs officials stopped the passenger for trying to bring in illegal alligator products from overseas.
- crocodile leather
similar luxury leather from crocodiles, often considered of slightly lower quality than alligator leather
- exotic leather
a broader category that includes alligator alongside ostrich, snake, and lizard leathers
文法句型
[adjective] alligator [noun]
[verb] [noun] made of alligator
[noun] in genuine alligator
用法筆記
Uncountable noun when referring to the material ('a bag made of alligator'). When used as an attributive noun ('an alligator bag'), it describes the material the item is made from, not a bag for carrying the animal. This sense is common in the fashion and luxury goods industries.