viper

American  

[vahy-per] / ˈvaɪ pər /

noun

1. any of several venomous Old World snakes of the genus Vipera, especially V. berus, a small snake common in northern Eurasia.

2. any related snakes belonging to the family Viperidae, characterized by erectile, venom-conducting fangs.

3. pit viper.

4. any of various venomous or supposedly venomous snakes.

5. a malignant or spiteful person.

6. a false or treacherous person.

7. Military. Viper, a 9-pound (4-kilogram), shoulder-launched, unguided U.S. Army antitank rocket with an effective range of 273 yards (250 meters).

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idioms

1. to nourish a viper in one's bosom, to befriend a person who proves to be treacherous.

viper British  

/ ˈvaɪpə /

noun

1. any venomous Old World snake of the family Viperidae, esp any of the genus Vipera (the adder and related forms), having hollow fangs in the upper jaw that are used to inject venom

2. any of various other snakes, such as the horned viper

3. See pit viper

4. a malicious or treacherous person

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Other Word Forms

• viper-like adjective
• viperish adjective
• viperishly adverb

Etymology

Origin of viper

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin vīpera, variant of unattested vīvipera, noun use of feminine of unattested vīviper, later (as re-formation) vīviparus “bringing forth live young”; vivi-, -parous

Example Sentences

In June, Mumbai customs intercepted two passengers arriving from Thailand with dozens of venomous vipers and more than 100 other creatures, including lizards, sunbirds and tree-climbing possums, also arriving from Thailand.

From Barron's

The white was ox-eye daisies, bladder campion and wild carrot, with spires of bright blue from viper's bugloss.

From BBC

Confronting her audience, she scolded: "I'll tell you something about my good name / It's mine alone to disgrace / I don't cater to all these vipers dressed in empath's clothing."

From BBC

In their post, they said they had seized three spider-tailed horned vipers, five Asian leaf turtles and 44 Indonesian pit vipers from the passenger.

From BBC

The other class of snake – the vipers – rely more on haemotoxins, which attack the blood, rather than neurotoxins.

From BBC

Related Words

• cobra