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noun Uncommon

viper

VYP

Viper (noun) means a venomous snake, especially one of the family that includes adders and rattlesnakes. Example: “The hikers gave the sunbathing viper a wide berth.”

noun
1
A venomous snake, especially one of the family that includes adders and rattlesnakes.
"The hikers gave the sunbathing viper a wide berth."
"A viper bite can be dangerous without prompt treatment."
2
A treacherous, spiteful, or dangerous person.
"She called her ex-business partner a viper who'd stab anyone in the back for profit."

How to use viper

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA poisonous snake, or, describing a person, someone sly and dangerous to trust.

Common pairings
a nest of vipers a venomous viper

Word forms

vipers plural

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The hikers gave the sunbathing _____ a wide berth.

Etymology

From Latin vipera, itself a contraction of vivipara ("bringing forth live young"), since vipers give birth to live offspring rather than laying eggs.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for viper

See all rhymes for viper →

Frequently asked questions

What does “viper” mean?

The word “viper” means a venomous snake, especially one of the family that includes adders and rattlesnakes. In plain terms, a poisonous snake, or, describing a person, someone sly and dangerous to trust.

How do you pronounce “viper”?

“Viper” is pronounced VYP (/ˈvaɪpɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “viper” in a sentence?

Here is “viper” used in a sentence: “The hikers gave the sunbathing viper a wide berth.”

What part of speech is “viper”?

“Viper” is a noun.

Where does the word “viper” come from?

The word “viper” comes from Latin. From Latin vipera, itself a contraction of vivipara ("bringing forth live young"), since vipers give birth to live offspring rather than laying eggs.

Is “viper” a common word?

“Viper” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “viper” have?

“Viper” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a venomous snake, especially one of the family that includes adders and rattlesnakes.

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