snake

The word “snake” means a long, legless reptile that moves by slithering, some species of which are venomous. In plain terms, the reptile, or figuratively, someone sneaky and disloyal; also used as a verb for winding paths or unclogging pipes.

“Snake” is pronounced snayk (/sneɪk/ in IPA).

Here is “snake” used in a sentence: “A snake slid silently through the grass.”

Depending on how it is used, “snake” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “snake” comes from Old English. From Old English snaca, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to creep" or "to slide.".

“Snake” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Snake” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a long, legless reptile that moves by slithering, some species of which are venomous.

Both refer to the same kind of long, legless reptile. 'Snake' is the ordinary everyday word, while 'serpent' is more formal, literary, or symbolic, often used in myth and religious texts.

The informal sense draws on the snake's reputation for striking unexpectedly. Calling someone 'a snake' means they are treacherous or untrustworthy, especially someone who betrays a friend, sometimes phrased as 'a snake in the grass.'

A snake is a reptile with a backbone and scales, and some species are venomous. A worm is a soft-bodied invertebrate with no backbone; despite both being long and legless, they are biologically very different.

Snakes are legless reptiles that move by slithering. Most lizards have legs, which snakes lack, even though both belong to the reptile family.