noun
snake
snayk
noun
1
A long, legless reptile that moves by slithering, some species of which are venomous.
"A snake slid silently through the grass."
2
Informally, a deceitful or untrustworthy person.
"He turned out to be a total snake, lying to everyone about the deal."
verb
1
To move or wind in a curving, twisting path.
"The road snaked through the mountains for miles."
2
To clear a blocked pipe using a long, flexible plumbing tool.
"The plumber had to snake the drain to clear the clog."
How to Use Snake
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe reptile, or figuratively, someone sneaky and disloyal; also used as a verb for winding paths or unclogging pipes.
Common pairings
snake through
a snake in the grass
snake a drain
Word Forms
snaked past tense, snakes singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “snake”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ slid silently through the grass.
Etymology
From Old English snaca, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to creep" or "to slide."