dragon

UK: /ˈdrægən/ US: /ˈdrægən/ ,(drag′ən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

drag•on /ˈdrægən/   n. [countable]

1. Mythology an imaginary monster that was supposed to be a huge winged reptile, often spouting fire.
2. a fierce, combative person.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

drag•on  (drag′ən), n. 

1. Mythology 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. Bible the dragon, Satan.
5. a fierce, violent person.
6. a very watchful and strict woman.
7. Reptiles See flying dragon. 
8. Plant Biology [Bot.] 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. Military a short musket carried by a mounted infantryman in the 16th and 17th centuries.
10. Military a soldier armed with such a musket.
11. (cap.) [Astron.] the constellation Draco.

• Greek drákōn kind of serpent, probably origin, originally epithet, the (sharp-)sighted one, akin to dérkesthai to look
• Latin dracōn- (stem of dracō)
• Old French
• Middle English 1175–1225

drag′on•ish, adj. 
drag′on•like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

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. a fierce or intractable person
3. any of various very large lizards, esp the Komodo dragon
4. chase the dragon ⇒ to smoke opium or heroin

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French, from Latin dracō, from Greek drakōn; related to drakos eye