Word
rattlesnake
Phoneticsrat·tlesnake
US/ˈɹætəɫsˌneɪk/
UK/ɹˈætəlsnˌeɪk/
Definition
n. a type of snake that lives in North and South America. It has a special part on its tail that makes a loud noise when it moves.
n. any of various venomous snakes of the genus Crotalus, characterized by a rattle on the end of the tail. Found primarily in the Americas, these snakes use the rattle as a warning signal to potential predators.
Examples
“The hiker saw a rattlesnake hiding in the tall grass.”
“When the campers heard the sound of a rattlesnake, they immediately moved away from the trail.”
“The rattlesnake's venom contains a complex mixture of enzymes and proteins that can cause severe tissue damage if not treated with an antiserum within hours of the bite.”
Examples
simple
“The hiker saw a rattlesnake hiding in the tall grass.”
contextual
“When the campers heard the sound of a rattlesnake, they immediately moved away from the trail.”
complex
“The rattlesnake's venom contains a complex mixture of enzymes and proteins that can cause severe tissue damage if not treated with an antiserum within hours of the bite.”
Real-World Examples
“Here, heat, thirst or flood are the biggest dangers, not the resident mountain lions, rattlesnakes or scorpions.” “I tracked her down to the high desert in the western US - rattlesnake country.” Etymology
From rattle + snake.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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