varanus Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun type and sole extant genus of the Varanidae
    genus Varanus.

WordNet

Va*ra"nus noun
Etymology
NL., fr. Ar. waran, waral; cf. F. varan, from the Arabic.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) A genus of very large lizards native of Asia and Africa. It includes the monitors. See Monitor, 3.

Webster 1913