noun
adder
AD
Adder (noun) means a small venomous snake found across Europe, including Britain, marked with a dark zigzag pattern down its back. Example: “She spotted an adder basking on the warm rocks.”
noun
1
A small venomous snake found across Europe, including Britain, marked with a dark zigzag pattern down its back.
"She spotted an adder basking on the warm rocks."
"The adder is the only venomous snake native to the UK."
2
A person or device that performs addition.
"The circuit uses a binary adder to combine the two signals."
"An old mechanical adder sat on the accountant's desk."
How to use adder
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a venomous European snake, or something (a person or machine) that adds numbers.
Memory tip
The word split from "nadder" by a mishearing of the article — a quirky bit of English history worth remembering.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
a venomous adder
binary adder
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Word forms
- Plural
- adders
Fill the gap
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She spotted an _____ basking on the warm rocks.
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."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for adder
See all rhymes for 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.
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