Dictionary

serpentine en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈsɝ.pənˌtaɪn/ (General-American)
• (US) audio
• /ˈsɜː.pənˌtaɪn/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈsɝ.pənˌtin/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English serpentine, from Old French serpentin, from Latin serpentīnus, from serpēns (“serpent”), equivalent to serpent + -ine.

Meanings

1. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes.
2. Of, or having attributes associated with, the serpent referred to in the book of Genesis in the Bible, such as craftiness or deceitfulness.
   • The wily criminal was known for his serpentine behavior.
3. Having the form or shape of a snake.
   • There are serpentine species of lizards which do not have legs.
4. Curving in alternate directions; sinuous.
   • The serpentine path through the mountains was narrow and dangerous.
   • Between Magherafelt and Macfin its length of 29¼ miles made a rather serpentine line on the map, as it attempted to serve the rather scattered towns and villages that lie between the River Bann and the Dungiven Mountains. 1950 December, E. M. Patterson, “An Ulster Round Trip”, in Railway Magazine, page 802:
   • So! keep looking so— / My serpentining beauty, rounds on rounds! 1855, Robert Browning, “Andrea del Sarto. (Called ‘the Faultless Painter.’)”, in Men and Women […], volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, page 2:
5. Pertaining to the serpentine subgroup of minerals.
   • serpentine soils

Forms

Deriveds

serpentine belt · serpentineness · serpentinely · serpentine fern · unserpentine · serpentine verse · nonserpentine

Synonyms

tortuous · sinuous · ophidian · winding

Translations (61)

ru змеи́ный (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · bg криволи́чещ (curving in alternate directions — see also sinuous) · fi käärmemäinen (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · es serpentino (curving in alternate directions — see also sinuous) · de sich schlängelnd (curving in alternate directions — see also sinuous) · la serpentīnus (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · mk зми́ски (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · es serpentino (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · bg зми́йски (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · ru змееподо́бный (having the form of a snake) · sh zmȉjast (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · sh зми̏јаст (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · bg змиеви́ден (having the form of a snake) · fi mutkikas (curving in alternate directions — see also sinuous) · pl wężowy (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · ru изви́листый (having the form of a snake) · be змяі́ны (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · pt viperino (of, or having attributes associated with, the serpent referred to in the book of Genesis in the Bible — see also crafty, deceitful) · pt sinuoso (curving in alternate directions — see also sinuous) · ru змееобра́зный (having the form of a snake) · cs hadí (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · ca anguiforme (having the form of a snake) · de Schlangen- (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · sh zmìjin (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · gv aarnieuagh (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · pt anguiforme (having the form of a snake) · pt ofídico (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · mk кри́вулест (curving in alternate directions — see also sinuous) · sh змѝјин (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · nl rddyufiy (having the form of a snake) · ru змееви́дный (having the form of a snake) · fi mutkitteleva (curving in alternate directions — see also sinuous) · fi kiemurteleva (curving in alternate directions — see also sinuous) · mk зми́јулест (having the form of a snake) · nl tyfit (having the form of a snake) · ru змееви́дный (curving in alternate directions — see also sinuous) · pt serpentiforme (having the form of a snake) · de schlangenförmig (having the form of a snake) · fr anguiforme (having the form of a snake) · ru кова́рный (of, or having attributes associated with, the serpent referred to in the book of Genesis in the Bible — see also crafty, deceitful) · bg лъкату́шен (curving in alternate directions — see also sinuous) · pt serpentino (curving in alternate directions — see also sinuous) · fi käärmemäinen (having the form of a snake) · pt serpentino (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · fi juonikas (of, or having attributes associated with, the serpent referred to in the book of Genesis in the Bible — see also crafty, deceitful) · sl kačji (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · grc ὀφιοειδής (having the form of a snake) · fr serpentin (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · sl kačast (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · mk кри́вулкав (curving in alternate directions — see also sinuous) · ru змеи́ный (having the form of a snake) · uk змії́ний (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · be зьмяі́ны (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · pt serpentino (having the form of a snake) · it serpentino (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · sk hadí (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · mk змијо́виден (having the form of a snake) · de gewunden (curving in alternate directions — see also sinuous) · ar ثُعْبَانِيّ (of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes) · es serpenteante (curving in alternate directions — see also sinuous) · gv aarnieuagh (having the form of a snake)

serpentine en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈsɝ.pənˌtaɪn/ (General-American)
• (US) audio
• /ˈsɜː.pənˌtaɪn/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈsɝ.pənˌtin/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English serpentine, from Old French serpentin, from Latin serpentīnus, from serpēns (“serpent”), equivalent to serpent + -ine.

Meanings

1. Any of several plants believed to cure snakebites.
2. (historical) An early form of cannon, used in the 16th century.
3. A kind of firework.
4. A coiled distillation tube.
5. Any of several related cubic curves; anguinea
6. In dressage, a winding walk across on the arena.
7. Any of several green/brown minerals consisting of magnesium and iron silicates that have similar layered crystal structure, whose appearance somewhat resembles a snake's skin.
   • It is reached by five-and-twenty steps of porphyry and serpentine. 2020, Hilary Mantel, The Mirror and the Light, Fourth Estate, page 394:
8. An outcrop or region with soil and rock dominated by these minerals.

Forms

Deriveds

serpentinise · serpentinicolous · serpentinic · serpentinize · serpentinous · serpentinite · serpentinization

Hyponyms

antigorite (mineral) · lizardite (mineral) · chrysotile (mineral)

Translations (34)

ja 蛇紋石 (mineral) · ota ییلان طاشی (mineral) · es serpentina (mineral) · hu szerpentin (mineral) · ru серпенти́н (mineral) · fi serpentiinialue (outcrop or region) · nl serpentijn (early form of cannon) · de Serpentin (mineral) · ca serpentina (mineral) · hi ज़हर मोहरा (mineral) · uk серпенти́н (mineral) · pt serpentina (coiled distillation tube) · sv serpentin (mineral) · fr serpentine (mineral) · de Schlangenstein (mineral) · ga nathairín (mineral) · pt serpentária (plant believed to cure snakebites) · bg серпентин (mineral) · uk змійови́к (mineral) · la ophites (mineral) · fi serpentiini (early form of cannon) · mk серпенти́н (mineral) · ru змееви́к (mineral) · ru змееви́к (coiled distillation tube) · it serpentino (mineral) · el σερπεντίνης (mineral) · pt serpentina (early form of cannon) · tr yılan taşı (mineral) · es serpentín (early form of cannon) · tr serpantin (mineral) · pt serpentina (mineral) · ro serpentin (mineral) · fi serpentiini (mineral) · bg серпентина (coiled distillation tube)

serpentine en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈsɝ.pənˌtaɪn/ (General-American)
• (US) audio
• /ˈsɜː.pənˌtaɪn/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈsɝ.pənˌtin/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English serpentine, from Old French serpentin, from Latin serpentīnus, from serpēns (“serpent”), equivalent to serpent + -ine.

Meanings

1. To serpentize; to turn or bend; to meander.
   • The mountains were fully in their gorgeous autumn garb the next morning, as the train serpentined up and up toward the divide. 1912, William B. Simmons, “The First Tripper”, in Hamilton Literary Magazine, volume 47, page 123:
   • At least one road here (the one serpentining up the mountain to Urfeld at the Walchensee) is prohibited for bicycles on weekends. 2012 January 29, Hans-Georg Michna, “GPS getting you into trouble”, in alt.satellite.gps.garmin (Usenet):
   • Most great mountain riders carve up the slope, serpentining as he climbs up the mountain. A mountain rider will as he loses momentum will turn out a bit, reducing the angle of attack. He will continue carving switchbacks, using body english jumping from one side of his sled to the other, as he continues climbing higher and higher. 2002 April 29, mixgreg, “Mountain Sledding”, in rec.sport.snowmobiles (Usenet):
   • 1813, George Nicholson, The Cambrian Traveller's Guidey There were two little lakes, or rather large pools which stood in the bottom, whence issued a rivulet which serpentined in view for two or three miles, offering a pleasing relief to the eye.

Forms

Deriveds

serpentiningly