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 notesIn plain EnglishSnake-like — either in shape (winding), character (sly), or as the name of a mineral.
Common pairings
serpentine path
serpentine curve
serpentine rock
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Word forms
- Plural
- serpentines
- Third person singular
- serpentines
- Past tense
- serpentined
- Comparative
- more serpentine
- Superlative
- most serpentine
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A _____ road wound its way up the mountainside.
Etymology
From Old French serpentin, from Latin serpentīnus, based on serpēns, "serpent."
Synonyms
View more →
snaky
snakelike
Antonyms
Related words
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.
