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Definition of snake

snake

/sneɪk/
snake

Plural:snakes
•
Adjective:snaky
•
Past Simple:snaked
•
Past Participle:snaked
•
Present Participle:snaking
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snake Lexical Profile

snake Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A long, legless reptile of the suborder Serpentes, characterized by an elongated scaly body, a flexible jaw, and the absence of eyelids.

Example

"The hiker backed away slowly when he heard a rattlesnake shaking its tail in the dry brush."


2

A deceitful, treacherous, or untrustworthy person who hides their malicious intentions.

Example

"I cannot believe he leaked our confidential strategy to a competitor; he is a complete snake."


3

A long, flexible wire or coil tool used by plumbers to dislodge clogs from pipes.

Example

"The plumber had to use a heavy-duty snake to remove the massive clog of hair from the shower drain."

Synonyms
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• verb

1

To move, glide, or extend in a winding, twisting, or sinuous path.

Example

"The narrow dirt road snaked its way up the steep side of the mountain."


2

To clear or clean a pipe or drain using a long, flexible plumbing tool.

Example

"He snaked the drain for nearly an hour before the water finally started flowing again."

Synonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

When used metaphorically to describe a person, 'snake' carries a strong pejorative connotation indicating deceit, treachery, or betrayal.

• Rhymes for snake

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'snaca', derived from Proto-Germanic 'snakan' (to crawl). It is closely related to the Old Norse 'snákr'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Snake. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/snake
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