snake

American  

[sneyk] / sneɪk /

noun

1. any of numerous limbless, scaly, elongate reptiles of the suborder Serpentes, comprising venomous and nonvenomous species inhabiting tropical and temperate areas.

2. a treacherous person; an insidious enemy.

3. Building Trades.

   1. Also called auger, plumber's snake.  (in plumbing) a device for dislodging obstructions in curved pipes, having a head fed into the pipe at the end of a flexible metal band.

   2. Also called wirepuller.  a length of resilient steel wire, for threading through an electrical conduit so that wire can be pulled through after it.

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verb (used without object)

snaked, snaking

1. to move, twist, or wind.

   The road snakes among the mountains.

verb (used with object)

snaked, snaking

1. to wind or make (one's course, way, etc.) in the manner of a snake.

   to snake one's way through a crowd.

2. to drag or haul, especially by a chain or rope, as a log.

snake British  

/ sneɪk /

noun

1. any reptile of the suborder Ophidia (or Serpentes ), typically having a scaly cylindrical limbless body, fused eyelids, and a jaw modified for swallowing large prey: includes venomous forms such as cobras and rattlesnakes, large nonvenomous constrictors (boas and pythons), and small harmless types such as the grass snake

2. Also called: snake in the grass.  a deceitful or treacherous person

3. anything resembling a snake in appearance or action

4. (in the European Union) a former system of managing a group of currencies by allowing the exchange rate of each of them only to fluctuate within narrow limits

5. a tool in the form of a long flexible wire for unblocking drains

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verb

1. (intr) to glide or move like a snake

2. (tr) to haul (a heavy object, esp a log) by fastening a rope around one end of it

3. (tr) (often foll by out) to pull jerkily

4. (tr) to move in or follow (a sinuous course)

Usage

What else does snake mean? Snake can be slang for a person who acts in a deceitful, underhanded, or backstabbing way.

Other Word Forms

• snakelike adjective

Etymology

Origin of snake

before 1000; Middle English (noun); Old English snaca; cognate with Middle Low German snake, Old Norse snākr

Explanation

A snake is a long reptile without legs that moves by undulating, arching the bones in its back and pushing against the ground. A pet snake is easy to care for, unless you're squeamish about feeding it mice. Like other reptiles, snakes are covered in smooth scales. Unlike most, snakes have flexible jaws that allow them to eat things much wider than their own narrow bodies — if you see a big lump in the middle of a garter snake's body, you can be pretty sure it's just eaten a mouse. Because so many people are afraid of snakes (the vast majority of which are not poisonous), the word has also come to mean "treacherous or deceitful person." Snake is a verb as well, meaning "move like a snake."

Example Sentences

Officials have recommended people stay vigilant and have an emergency plan in case of a snake bite, including knowing their location, trail names and GPS coordinates.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

In 2025, the county reported nine snake bites for the year.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Green outfitted the apartments with Ikea furniture, a snake plant and Martha Stewart kitchenware.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Scientists are exploring how snake venom could address cancer, strokes and Alzheimer’s disease, she said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

I said, “A piece of red coral is made of gorgon’s blood. And gorgons are horrible snake monsters who live on islands.”

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

Related Words

• serpent
• vermin