Advertisement

View synonyms for

snake

[sneyk]

noun

  1. any of numerous limbless, scaly, elongate reptiles of the suborder Serpentes, comprising venomous and nonvenomous species inhabiting tropical and temperate areas.

  2. a treacherous person; an insidious enemy.

  3. Building Trades.

    1. Also called auger, plumber's snake.(in plumbing) a device for dislodging obstructions in curved pipes, having a head fed into the pipe at the end of a flexible metal band.

    2. Also called wirepuller.a length of resilient steel wire, for threading through an electrical conduit so that wire can be pulled through after it.



verb (used without object)

snaked, snaking 
  1. to move, twist, or wind.

    The road snakes among the mountains.

verb (used with object)

snaked, snaking 
  1. to wind or make (one's course, way, etc.) in the manner of a snake.

    to snake one's way through a crowd.

  2. to drag or haul, especially by a chain or rope, as a log.

snake

/ Աɪ /

noun

  1. any reptile of the suborder Ophidia (or Serpentes ), typically having a scaly cylindrical limbless body, fused eyelids, and a jaw modified for swallowing large prey: includes venomous forms such as cobras and rattlesnakes, large nonvenomous constrictors (boas and pythons), and small harmless types such as the grass snake

  2. Also called: snake in the grass.a deceitful or treacherous person

  3. anything resembling a snake in appearance or action

  4. (in the European Union) a former system of managing a group of currencies by allowing the exchange rate of each of them only to fluctuate within narrow limits

  5. a tool in the form of a long flexible wire for unblocking drains

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (intr) to glide or move like a snake

  2. (tr) to haul (a heavy object, esp a log) by fastening a rope around one end of it

  3. (tr) (often foll by out) to pull jerkily

  4. (tr) to move in or follow (a sinuous course)

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • snakelike adjective
  • ˈԲˌ adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of snake1

before 1000; Middle English (noun); Old English snaca; cognate with Middle Low German snake, Old Norse
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of snake1

Old English snaca; related to Old Norse snake, Old High German snahhan to crawl, Norwegian ō snail
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

As the young women marched, several Latino maintenance workers snaked a power hose across the Federal Building steps, paying no mind to the heavily-armed National Guard soldiers as they sprayed away graffiti.

From

Let’s think about the terrifying theremin line that snakes through “Good Vibrations” like it’s tugging a flying saucer down onto Dockweiler Beach.

From

Hikers often consider what they’ll do if they run into bears, snakes and other wildlife but ignore one of the most significant dangers they’ll encounter: water.

From

But over four long days, which may well suffer weekend weather interruption, there will be sufficient snakes to counterbalance the very few ladders afforded by this ultra-demanding course.

From

When she refuses, Spears grabs the trimmer and clicks it on: “The extensions are hacked into lifeless scraps … the stray hairs curl on the floor like writhing snakes.”

From

Advertisement

Related Words

Discover More

When To Use

else does snake mean?

Snake can be slang for a person who acts in a deceitful, underhanded, or backstabbing way.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


snail's pacesnakebird