1
: any of numerous limbless scaled reptiles (suborder Serpentes synonym Ophidia) with a long tapering body and with salivary glands often modified to produce venom which is injected through grooved or tubular fangs
2
: a worthless or treacherous fellow
3
: something (such as a plumber's snake) resembling a snake
snaked; snaking
1
: to wind (one's way, one's body in crawling, etc.) in the manner of a snake
2
: to move (something, such as logs) by dragging
: to crawl, move, or extend silently, secretly, or sinuously
Synonyms
Examples of snake in a Sentence
Noun
I thought she was my friend, but she turned out to be a snake in the grass.
snakes are cold-blooded, so they regulate their body temperature by alternately basking in sunlight and seeking shade
Verb
The road snakes through the mountains.
Cables snaked across the floor.
Technicians snaked cables through the set.
He snaked his way through the crowd.
Recent Examples on the Web
Danielle Jennings, Peoplemag, 19 June 2024
The filming technology itself was rudimentary: most of the time, there were just two cameras, connected to thick cords that draped the floor like snakes.
—Emily Nussbaum, The New Yorker, 15 June 2024
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 19 June 2024
Seemingly overnight, lines began snaking around the building as customers became tantalized by the warm aroma of the seafood haven.
—Maddi Langweil, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for snake 
Noun
Thank snake species is considered one of Australia's least dangerous venomous snakes.
—Danielle Jennings, Peoplemag, 19 June 2024
The filming technology itself was rudimentary: most of the time, there were just two cameras, connected to thick cords that draped the floor like snakes.
—Emily Nussbaum, The New Yorker, 15 June 2024
Verb
The tiger snakes of Perth have heavy metals in their livers.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 19 June 2024
Seemingly overnight, lines began snaking around the building as customers became tantalized by the warm aroma of the seafood haven.
—Maddi Langweil, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for snake
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'snake.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near snake
Cite this Entry
“Snake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snake. Accessed 1 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
snake
1 of 2 noun1
: any of numerous limbless reptiles that have a long body and salivary glands often capable of producing venom which is injected through fangs
2
: a mean or treacherous person
snake
2 of 2 verb
snaked; snaking
: to crawl, wind, or move like a snake
Medical Definition
snake
noun
: any of numerous limbless scaled reptiles (suborder Serpentes synonym Ophidia) with a long tapering body and with salivary glands often modified to produce venom which is injected through grooved or tubular fangs
Geographical Definition
Snake
geographical name
river 1038 miles (1670 kilometers) long in the northwestern U.S. flowing from northwestern Wyoming across southern Idaho and into the Columbia River in Washington
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