adj

serpentine

SUR-puhn-tyn

adj

Winding and twisting like a snake.

"A serpentine road wound its way up the mountainside."

Cunning or deceitful, in the manner traditionally associated with snakes.

"His serpentine tactics eventually caught up with him."

noun

A greenish mineral with a scaly, snake-skin-like appearance.

"The countertop was carved from polished serpentine."

How to Use Serpentine

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSnake-like — either in shape (winding), character (sly), or as the name of a mineral.

Common pairings

serpentine path serpentine curve serpentine rock

more serpentine comparative, serpentined past tense, serpentines plural, serpentines singular, most serpentine superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

A _____ road wound its way up the mountainside.

From Old French serpentin, from Latin serpentīnus, based on serpēns, "serpent."

nine mine wine line sine dine fine vine pine tine Eine thine