n. [ Sp. el lagarto the lizard (el lagarto de Indias, the cayman or American crocodile), fr. L. lacertus, lacerta, lizard. See Lizard. ] 1. (Zool.) A large carnivorous reptile of the Crocodile family, peculiar to America. It has a shorter and broader snout than the crocodile, and the large teeth of the lower jaw shut into pits in the upper jaw, which has no marginal notches. Besides the common species of the southern United States, there are allied species in South America. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mech.) Any machine with strong jaws, one of which opens like the movable jaw of an alligator; as, (a) (Metal Working) a form of squeezer for the puddle ball; (b) (Mining) a rock breaker; (c) (Printing) a kind of job press, called also alligator press. [ 1913 Webster ]

Alligator apple (Bot.), the fruit of the Anona palustris, a West Indian tree. It is said to be narcotic in its properties. Loudon. --
Alligator fish (Zool.), a marine fish of northwestern America (Podothecus acipenserinus). --
Alligator gar (Zool.), one of the gar pikes (Lepidosteus spatula) found in the southern rivers of the United States. The name is also applied to other species of gar pikes. --
Alligator pear (Bot.), a corruption of Avocado pear. See Avocado. --
Alligator snapper,
Alligator tortoise,
Alligator turtle (Zool.), 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. --
Alligator wood, the timber of a tree of the West Indies (Guarea Swartzii). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. & t. [ Because of the resemblance to the pattern on the skin of an alligator. ] to form shallow cracks in a reticulated pattern on the surface, or in a coating on the surface, of an object. [ PJC ]

adj. 1. 1 having cracks in a reticulated pattern, giving an appearance reminiscent of alligator hide; -- said of a surface coating, e.g., of paint, varnish, or glazing
Syn. -- cracked [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. 1. 1 small very elongate sea poachers.
Syn. -- Aspidophoroides monopterygius [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. 1 the family of reptiles comprising the alligators, and including the caimans.
Syn. -- family Alligatoridae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

. (Mech.) A kind of pipe wrench having a flaring jaw with teeth on one side. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Releasing from obligation. “Disobligatory power.” Charles I. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>n. [ See Ligate. ] (Surg.) An instrument for ligating, or for placing and fastening a ligature. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an obligatory manner; by reason of obligation. Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being obligatory. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. obligatorius: cf. F. obligatoire. ] Binding in law or conscience; imposing duty or obligation; requiring performance or forbearance of some act; -- often followed by on or upon; as, obedience is obligatory on a soldier. [ 1913 Webster ]

As long as the law is obligatory, so long our obedience is due. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]