viper

[ vahy-per ]

/ ˈvaɪ pər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR viper ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

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

pit viper.

any of various venomous or supposedly venomous snakes.

a malignant or spiteful person.

a false or treacherous person.

(initial capital letter) Military. a 9-pound (4 kg), shoulder-launched, unguided U.S. Army antitank rocket with an effective range of 273 yards (250 meters).

Nearby words

violone, viomycin, viosterol, viotti, vip, viper, viper in one's bosom, viper's bugloss, viperfish, viperine, viperous

Idioms

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

Origin of viper

1520–30; < Latin vīpera, haplological variant of *vīvipera, noun use of feminine of *vīviper, later (as re-formation) vīviparus viviparous

Related forms

vi·per·ish, adjectivevi·per·ish·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for viper

Oberyn “Red Viper” Martell (Pedro Pascal) Dies: Season 4, Episode 8: “The Mountain and the Viper” Dios mio.
Life After ‘Game of Thrones’ Death: Where to See Your Favorite Dead Characters Next|Marlow Stern|June 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Of the actual duel between the Mountain and the Viper, judging its accuracy is no easy matter.
The ‘GOT’ Red Viper and Mountain Duel, and a History of Medieval Trial by Combat|Steven Isaac|June 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I want to bring those who have wronged me to justice,” said the Viper to Tyrion in the previous episode.
Game of Thrones’ ‘The Mountain and the Viper’ Recap: Trial by Combat and Inigo Montoya’s Revenge|Marlow Stern|June 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A spring is compressed before it's released; the viper coils before it strikes.
Game of Thrones’ Season 4 Premiere ‘Two Swords’: Valyrian Steel, Arya’s Revenge, and the Red Viper|Andrew Romano|April 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Harold, you see, was always what they used to call "a viper."
The Stacks: Harold Conrad Was Many Things, But He Was Never, Ever Dull|Mark Jacobson|March 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He cast a viper's glance at the man who had unmasked him, and seized him fiercely by the arm.
The Gold-Seekers|Gustave Aimard
Of this kind is the only snake to be found in England except the viper.
The Animal World, A Book of Natural History|Theodore Wood
How such a viper came to warm itself on the bishop's hearth no one could say.
The Bishop's Secret|Fergus Hume
He was a viper warmed in the bosom of the Court, and stung it to the full extent of his opportunity and powers.
Lord Chatham|Archibald Phillip Primrose Rosebery
"That little poisonous Indian viper," she said aloud, attributing Aaron's mood to the doctor.
Aaron's Rod|D. H. Lawrence

British Dictionary definitions for viper

viper

/ (ˈvaɪpə) /

noun

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

any of various other snakes, such as the horned viper

See pit viper

a malicious or treacherous person

Derived Forms

viper-like, adjective

Word Origin for viper

C16: from Latin vīpera, perhaps from vīvus living + parere to bear, referring to a tradition that the viper was viviparous

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

viper

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of viper

Related forms

Examples from the Web for viper

British Dictionary definitions for viper

viper

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for viper