gecko

noun

ˈge-(ˌ)kō How to pronounce gecko (audio)
plural geckos also geckoes
: any of numerous small chiefly tropical and nocturnal insectivorous lizards (family Gekkonidae)

Illustration of gecko

Illustration of gecko

Examples of gecko in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The male Burrowing Own feeds a gecko to the female as their chicks play around them. — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026 Dylan, who shares a room with a leopard gecko, is still steeped in the unambiguous stuff of kid-world. — Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026 Jeff has really been supportive of and promoting the giant gecko and snakes. — Ben Rosenstock, Time, 18 May 2026 Researchers identified four different populations of the gecko, each evolving differently from the others. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gecko

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from Malay dialect geʔkok

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gecko was in 1774

Rhymes for gecko

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Browse Nearby Words

geck
gecko
geckoid
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Cite this Entry

“Gecko.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gecko. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

gecko

noun
ˈgek-ō How to pronounce gecko (audio)
plural geckos or geckoes
: any of numerous small harmless chiefly tropical lizards that eat insects and are active at night

More from Merriam-Webster on gecko

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gecko

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