noun

ouroboros

oo-ruh-BOR-uhs

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Ouroboros (noun) means a mythological serpent or dragon shown swallowing its own tail, symbolising the endless cycle of life and death. Example: “The ancient manuscript was decorated with an ouroboros circling the border.”

noun

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

"The ancient manuscript was decorated with an ouroboros circling the border."

"Students in the seminar discussed the ouroboros as a symbol found across several mythologies."

"She wore a silver ring shaped like an ouroboros."

figurative Something that forms a circular or self-repeating pattern, feeding back into itself.

"The debate became an ouroboros of accusations, each side blaming the other in an endless loop."

"Critics called the franchise's plot an ouroboros, always returning to its own beginning."

"The policy created an ouroboros of debt, where new loans simply paid off old ones."

How to use ouroboros

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn ouroboros is the classic image of a snake biting its own tail, used as a symbol for endless cycles.

When to use it

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

Memory tip

Break the word down as oura, meaning tail, plus a part meaning devouring, and the meaning becomes easy to picture.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

an ouroboros of debt the ouroboros symbol like an ouroboros

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The ancient manuscript was decorated with an _____ circling the border.

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.

Origin: Ancient Greek

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.

What is the meaning of ouroboros?

"ouroboros" (noun) means a mythological serpent or dragon shown swallowing its own tail, symbolising the endless cycle of life and death.