Snake is a word with several very different meanings. It can refer to a reptile, but it can also name a windingmoving in a curving, twisting path rather than straight river, a dishonestnot truthful; likely to cheat or deceive others person, a plumbingpipes and fixtures that carry water in a building tool, or an action that moves in a winding way.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /sneɪk/
Easy pronunciation: SNAKE (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable; stress falls on the only syllable.
Primary sense: noun meaning a limbless scaly reptile.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Snake Meaning
a long, legless reptile
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a limbless scaly reptile; some species are venomous
Example: We spotted a snake warming itself on the rocks.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- serpent — A true synonym for the reptile sense, though more formal or literary.
- ophidian — A technical term for a snake; less common in everyday speech.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Snake
Meaning 2
the Snake River
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a tributary of the Columbia River that rises in Wyoming and flows westward; discovered in 1805 by the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Example: They camped near the Snake River.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- snake river — The proper name of this river.
Meaning 3
a constellation called Hydra
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a long faint constellation in the southern hemisphere near the equator stretching between Virgo and Cancer
Example: The constellation Hydra is faint but visible in dark skies.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- hydra — The standard name for this constellation.
Meaning 4
a sneaky, untrustworthy person
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a deceitful or treacherous person
Example: I thought he was a friend, but he turned out to be a snake.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- snake in the grass — An idiomatic phrase for a deceitful person, but not a direct one-word substitute.
Meaning 5
a plumbing tool used to clear blocked pipes
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a long flexible steel coil for dislodging stoppages in curved pipes
Example: He used a plumber's snake to clear the drain.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- auger — Can refer to a similar tool, but it is broader and not always identical.
- plumber's snake — The common name for this plumbing tool.
Meaning 6
to move or arrange in a winding shape
Part of speech: verb
Definition: form a snake-like pattern
Example: The road snaked along the cliff edge.
Meaning 7
to travel in a winding line
Part of speech: verb
Definition: move along a winding path
Example: The hikers snaked up the mountain trail.
Meaning 8
to move in a smooth, curving way
Part of speech: verb
Definition: move smoothly and sinuously, like a snake
Example: The dancer snaked across the stage.
Meaning 9
a long, flexible object that looks snake-like
Part of speech: noun
Definition: something long, thin, and flexible that resembles a snake
Example: The cable lay on the floor like a snake.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Snake Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- serpent
- ophidian
the Snake River
- snake river
the constellation
- hydra
a deceitful person
- snake in the grass
a plumbing tool
- plumber's snake
- auger
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse the reptile meaning of snake with the proper name Snake River.
- Do not use serpent as a synonym for every meaning; it fits the animal sense only.
- Hydra is the constellation name, not the animal or the verb.
- Plumber's snake is a tool, not the reptile sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common meaning of snake?
The most common meaning is the reptile: a long, legless scaly animal, sometimes venomous.
What are good synonyms for snake?
For the reptile sense, the best synonyms are serpent and, in more technical usage, ophidian. Other meanings of snake have different synonyms.
Is snake ever a verb?
Yes. As a verb, snake means to move in a winding or curving way, as in a river, road, or line of people.
What does snake in the grass mean?
It means a deceitful or treacherous person.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
