easy
A turtle is a reptile even though it spends much of its time in water.
What does Reptile mean?
A reptile is an air-breathing vertebrate with dry, usually scaly skin, such as a snake, lizard, turtle, or crocodile.
Dictionary definition
A reptile is an ectothermic, air-breathing vertebrate in a group that includes snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodilians, and tuatara; reptiles usually have dry skin covered with scales or bony plates. Reptile can also describe something related to this animal group and, as an insulting noun, a person judged to be unpleasant or untrustworthy.
Example sentences
Reptile in a sentence
medium
The reptile warmed itself on a sunny rock because its body temperature depends on its surroundings.
hard
The class used dry scales and lungs to distinguish the reptile from the amphibian.
hard
The museum's reptile exhibit includes snakes, lizards, and a model crocodile.
Writing practice
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Quick practice
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Practice the meaning of Reptile
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
Which description identifies a reptile?
Dry scales or plates and lungs are characteristic reptile clues.
Practice 2
Which sentence uses reptile as an adjective?
Reptile describes the kind of exhibit, so it acts as an adjective.
Practice 3
Which comparison is accurate?
Skin is a useful classroom clue; some reptiles bear live young, and turtles remain reptiles.
Practice complete
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Reptile
Voice settings
Sounds like
rep · tyl · strongest beat: rep
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
Learn
WordReptile.
Partnoun, adjective.
MeaningReptile means A reptile is an air-breathing vertebrate with dry, usually scaly skin, such as a snake, lizard, turtle, or crocodile.
ExampleExample: A turtle is a reptile even though it spends much of its time in water.
Word breakdown
2 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- rep · tyl
- Strongest beat
- rep
- Ending
- tyl
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on rep.
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Synonym review
Does Reptile have synonyms?
Reptile is the precise animal-group name. Scaled animal is only a description, and snake, lizard, and turtle name narrower kinds of reptiles.
Antonym review
Does Reptile have an opposite?
Reptile has no direct antonym. Amphibian, mammal, bird, and fish are neighboring animal groups, not opposites.
Word family
Reptile word family
Base word
reptile
noun
reptiles
The plural form of reptile.
adjective
reptilian
Related to or resembling a reptile.
adjective
reptilelike
Having an appearance or quality like a reptile.
Related words
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Student support
Understand Reptile
Hint for students
Look for dry scales or plates, lungs, and body heat that depends on the surroundings; living near water does not make an animal an amphibian.
Common mix-up
Cold-blooded is an older everyday label for ectothermic. It does not mean a reptile's blood is literally cold, and not every reptile lays eggs.
Try it in class or at home
Students sort turtle, snake, frog, salamander, crocodile, and lizard cards into reptile or amphibian. For each choice, they cite a skin or life-cycle clue and flag any clue that is only usually true.
Teacher prompt
Compare a turtle and a frog. Which skin, breathing, and life-cycle clues support classifying one as a reptile and the other as an amphibian?
Animal Classification Wheel
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Spin this researched animal vocabulary wheel to compare body groups, backbones, diets, predator-prey roles, and the evidence behind each classification.
Learning activities
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