any of several highly venomous, Old World elapid snakes of the genera Naja and Ophiophagus, characterized by the ability to flatten the neck into a hoodlike form when disturbed.
any of several similar, related African snakes, as the ringhals.
leather made from the skin of a cobra.
Military. Cobra, a single-engine, two-seat U.S. Army attack helicopter armed with missiles, rockets, and a 20 mm cannon and in service since 1977.
any highly venomous elapid snake of the genus Naja, such as N. naja ( Indian cobra ), of tropical Africa and Asia. When alarmed they spread the skin of the neck region into a hood
any related snake, such as the king cobra
First recorded in 1810–20; short for cobra de capello
First recorded in 1825–35, cobra is from the Dharuk word gabarā
A cobra is a large, venomous snake. Many cobras rear up when threatened, displaying a hood that flares out to intimidate their predators. Like all venomous snakes, cobras only bite humans if they think they're in danger — but when they do, they inject a neurotoxin that can slow their victim's breathing and heartbeat. Unlike most other snakes, cobras have a distinct "hood" made of muscles and ribs that can widen, giving them an especially terrifying appearance when threatened. Cobra is from the Portuguese cobra de capello, "serpent of the hood."
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"You all knew Chuck Norris as the man that counted to infinity twice, the man who got bit by a cobra and the cobra died," she says.
From BBC ● Mar. 20, 2026
Carse produced a lifter to Usman Khawaja so venomous it could have been a spitting cobra.
From BBC ● Nov. 21, 2025
This drama will not end well: “Watch Your Step” has a coiled energy, a cobra poised to strike.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2025
When she and Dr. Tessler analyzed the leech’s movement, they identified that it made a curling motion similar to the move a cobra makes before it strikes.
From New York Times ● Jun. 20, 2024
High on his left arm, a tattoo of a red cobra, fanged, coiled, and ready to strike, stood in stark relief to his pale, freckled skin.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
Until Medicare eligibility begins, your options may include COBRA, the ACA Marketplace, or Medicaid.
From MarketWatch ● May 30, 2026
If SAG-AFTRA members lose health coverage because they did not work enough days or meet the earnings threshold, they qualify for continued coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2023
Before paying down any debt, or agreeing to pay for his COBRA, ask how he plans to move forward with his retirement now that the inheritance is gone.
From Slate ● Mar. 14, 2023
After the severance package runs out and people are no longer receiving corporate-sponsored health care, they should shop around with different insurance companies for individual plans instead of paying for COBRA, Crary said.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 12, 2023
In contrast, full-time workers received 12 months of insurance through COBRA, at least 14 weeks of base pay, fewer restrictions on equity and the option to keep their laptop.
From Washington Post ● May 15, 2020
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
