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adj

serpentine

SUR-puhn-tyn

Serpentine (adj) means winding and twisting like a snake. Example: “A serpentine road wound its way up the mountainside.”

adj
1
Winding and twisting like a snake.
"A serpentine road wound its way up the mountainside."
2
Cunning or deceitful, in the manner traditionally associated with snakes.
"His serpentine tactics eventually caught up with him."
noun
1
A greenish mineral with a scaly, snake-skin-like appearance.
"The countertop was carved from polished serpentine."

How to Use Serpentine

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSnake-like — either in shape (winding), character (sly), or as the name of a mineral.

Common pairings
serpentine path serpentine curve serpentine rock

Word Forms

more serpentine comparative, serpentined past tense, serpentines plural, serpentines singular, most serpentine superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

A _____ road wound its way up the mountainside.

Etymology

From Old French serpentin, from Latin serpentīnus, based on serpēns, "serpent."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for serpentine

See all rhymes for serpentine →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “serpentine” mean?

The word “serpentine” means winding and twisting like a snake. In plain terms, snake-like — either in shape (winding), character (sly), or as the name of a mineral.

How do you pronounce “serpentine”?

“Serpentine” is pronounced SUR-puhn-tyn (/ˈsɝ.pənˌtaɪn/ in IPA).

How do you use “serpentine” in a sentence?

Here is “serpentine” used in a sentence: “A serpentine road wound its way up the mountainside.”

What part of speech is “serpentine”?

Depending on how it is used, “serpentine” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “serpentine” come from?

The word “serpentine” comes from Latin. From Old French serpentin, from Latin serpentīnus, based on serpēns, "serpent.".

How many meanings does “serpentine” have?

“Serpentine” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: winding and twisting like a snake.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial