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 Roadster clung to the surface, hanging upside-down from the ledge like a gecko on a ceiling thanks to a special fan suction system on its chassis. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Stanford roboticists applied this concept to build Stickybot, a climbing robot featuring synthetic foot pads modeled after gecko toes. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026 House Gecko Most commonly spotted inside a home, the house gecko is one of a handful of non-native geckos that have fanned out across Florida over the last century. — Alex Harris august 25, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026 Multiply it across roughly a half-million setae per foot, each branching into hundreds of contact points, and the combined force is enough to let a gecko hang from a single toe or sprint upside down across a ceiling. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 21 July 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 20 Oct. 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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