noun

• (mythology) A creature much like a lizard that is resistant to and lives in fire (in which it is often depicted in heraldry), hence the elemental being of fire.
  "“Not a chance, Ranger,” Bob Mason was speaking. “This little cuss is a salamander. He's been travelling through fire all day and there isn't a blister on him. …”"
• (cooking) A metal utensil with a flat head which is heated and put over a dish to brown the top.
  "The salamander, a fairly long metal utensil with a flat rounded head, was left in the fire until red hot and then used to brown the top of a dish without further cooking."
• (cooking) A small broiler (North America) or grill (Britain) that heats the food from above, used in professional cookery primarily for browning.
  "The chef first put the steak under the salamander to sear the outside."
• (archaic) A pouched gopher (Geomys pinetis etc.)

verb

• (transitive) To use a salamander (cooking utensil) in a cooking process.
  "When cold, sprinkle the custard thickly with sugar and salamander it."