rattlesnake
n. B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɹætəɫsˌneɪk// UK //ɹˈætəlsnˌeɪk// rat·tlesnake
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.
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.
From rattle + snake.