/ˈaliˌgātər/
Noun
1. A crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two living alligator species: the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis). (wikipedia.org)
2. Either of two broad-snouted crocodilians of the genus Alligator, of the southeastern U.S. and eastern China. (dictionary.com)
3. (Botany)
Alligator apple, a very large and voracious turtle (Macrochelys lacertina) inhabiting the rivers of the southern united states. It sometimes reaches the weight of two hundred pounds. Unlike the common snapping turtle, to which the name is sometimes erroneously applied, it has a scaly head and many small scales beneath the tail. This name is sometimes given to other turtles, as to species of trionyx. (biology-online.org)
Syn: crocodile
Word origin: From Latin alligator (“one who ties or binds”), from alligo (“I bind”) + -tor (“agent suffix”)