serpentine

¹ American  

[sur-puhn-teen, -tahyn] / ˈsɜr pənˌtin, -ˌtaɪn /

adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or resembling a serpent, as in form or movement.

2. having a winding course, as a road; sinuous.

   Synonyms:

   tortuous, twisting

3. shrewd, wily, or cunning.

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noun

1. a device on a harquebus lock for holding the match.

2. a cannon having any of various bore sizes, used from the 15th to the 17th century.

3. Skating. a school figure made by skating two figure eights that share one loop.

verb (used without object)

serpentined, serpentining

1. to make or follow a winding course.

   The stream serpentines through the valley.

serpentine ² American  

[sur-puhn-teen, -tahyn] / ˈsɜr pənˌtin, -ˌtaɪn /

noun

1. a common mineral, hydrous magnesium silicate, H 2 Mg 3 Si 2 O 2 , usually oily green and sometimes spotted, occurring in many varieties: used for architectural and decorative purposes.

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serpentine ¹ British  

/ ˈsɜːpənˌtaɪn /

noun

1. a dark green or brown mineral with a greasy or silky lustre, found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. It is used as an ornamental stone; and one variety (chrysotile) is known as asbestos. Composition: hydrated magnesium silicate. Formula: Mg 3 Si 2 O 5 (OH) 4 . Crystal structure: monoclinic

2. any of a group of minerals having the general formula (Mg,Fe) 3 Si 2 O 5 (OH) 4

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serpentine ² British  

/ ˈsɜːpənˌtaɪn /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling a serpent

2. twisting; winding

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noun

1. maths a curve that is symmetric about the origin of and asymptotic to the x -axis

serpentine Scientific  

/ sûr′pən-tēn′,-tīn′ /

1. Any of a group of greenish, brownish, or yellowish monoclinic minerals, occurring in igneous or metamorphic rocks. They are used as a source of magnesium and asbestos. Chemical formula: (Mg,Fe) ₃ Si ₂ O ₅ (OH) ₄ .

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Etymology

Origin of serpentine¹

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English (adjective) from Old French serpentin, serpentine and Latin serpentīnus “snakelike”; see origin at Serpens, -ine ¹ ( def. )

Origin of serpentine²

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English serpentin(e), from Old French serpentine and Medieval Latin serpentīnum (neuter) and serpentīna (feminine), noun use of neuter of serpentīnus serpentine ¹

Explanation

You can use the adjective serpentine to describe things that look like a serpent or are snakelike. Looking down at the carved riverbeds in the Grand Canyon is like looking into a basket of snakes: the serpentine twists curve throughout the canyon floor. Not everyone likes snakes, but those who aren’t grossed out by the highly flexible bodies of serpents might enjoy using the word serpentine for things that resemble their snaky, curvy lines. Strands of hair, cracks in dry desert, and roller-coaster rides can look serpentine, and you might tangle with a serpentine hose while minding your own business and watering the plants. Sometimes serpentine even describes people who are snakelike or slippery in character.

Example Sentences

London's Serpentine Gallery is currently holding his first exhibition there, which was conceived in close collaboration with the artist and features new paintings by him.

From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026

So I can basically go jogging around the Serpentine then I go home again.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

In her last years, she was able to see her paintings fill places like LACMA, the Hammer Museum and London’s Serpentine Gallery.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 3, 2025

Plucky bathers took to the sea off Dorset, Devon and Norfolk as well as the Serpentine lake for the traditional Peter Pan Cup race in London's Hyde Park.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2024

The rather muddy drive was on one side, the Serpentine on the other, and indications that London was coming to town could be seen in the increasing string of carriages.

From Eli's Children The Chronicles of an Unhappy Family by Fenn, George Manville

Related Words

• artful
• circuitous
• convoluted
• curved
• meandering
• sinuous
• twisting