adder
1 synonym for adder, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A small venomous snake found across Europe, including Britain, marked with a dark zigzag pattern down its back.
How to use adder
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a venomous adder
binary adder
Etymology
From Middle English naddere. The "n" was lost when "a naddere" was misheard as "an addere" — the same shift that turned "a napron" into "an apron."
Full origin of adder →Frequently asked questions
What does “adder” mean?
The word “adder” means a small venomous snake found across Europe, including Britain, marked with a dark zigzag pattern down its back. In plain terms, either a venomous European snake, or something (a person or machine) that adds numbers.
How do you pronounce “adder”?
“Adder” is pronounced AD (/ˈædɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “adder” in a sentence?
Here is “adder” used in a sentence: “She spotted an adder basking on the warm rocks.”
What part of speech is “adder”?
“Adder” is a noun.
Where does the word “adder” come from?
The word “adder” comes from Middle English. From Middle English naddere. The "n" was lost when "a naddere" was misheard as "an addere" — the same shift that turned "a napron" into "an apron.".
How many meanings does “adder” have?
“Adder” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small venomous snake found across Europe, including Britain, marked with a dark zigzag pattern down its back.
