ouroboros

What is another word for ouroboros? Here is its meaning, with related words and examples.

Noun — A mythological serpent or dragon shown swallowing its own tail, symbolising the endless cycle of life and death.

We haven't recorded synonyms for ouroboros yet. You can still read its full definition, where it comes from, or words that rhyme with it.

How to use ouroboros

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

an ouroboros of debt the ouroboros symbol like an ouroboros

It is a literary and mythological term, more likely to appear in writing than in everyday speech.

Etymology

Ouroboros comes from the Ancient Greek ourobóros, meaning tail-devouring. It is a compound of ourá, meaning tail, and a second element related to a verb meaning to eat up.

Full origin of ouroboros →

Frequently asked questions

What does ouroboros mean?

It refers to the image of a serpent or dragon eating its own tail, a traditional symbol of an endless cycle.

What does the ouroboros symbolise?

Traditionally it stands for the continuous cycle of life and death, and more broadly for anything circular or self-renewing.

Can ouroboros be used outside mythology?

Yes, by extension people use it to describe any situation that is circular or recursive, feeding back into itself.

Nearby words

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