# serpent

/ˈsɝpənt/ (US) · /sˈɜːpənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/serpent
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a snake

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a snake, especially a large or dangerous one in a story.

For teachers: a snake; the term is typically reserved for literary, mythological, or biblical contexts rather than biological descriptions.

- In the ancient story, a giant serpent guarded the entrance to the cave.
- The poet describes the serpent gliding through the tall grass, its scales shimmering with a cold, metallic light.

### 2. a monster

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a large, snake-like monster from myths, like a dragon or a sea monster.

For teachers: a legendary or mythological creature of snake-like form, such as a sea serpent or a dragon.

- Sailors told terrifying tales of a sea serpent that lived in the deep ocean.
- Medieval maps often featured illustrations of great serpents in the unexplored corners of the world to warn travellers of unknown dangers.

### 3. a treacherous person

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

a person who is dishonest and cannot be trusted.

For teachers: a treacherous, deceitful, or malicious person who hides their true intentions.

- He called his business partner a serpent after he was cheated out of his money.
- The king realised too late that his closest advisor was a serpent who had been plotting his downfall for years.

### 4. musical instrument

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Archaic

an old-fashioned wind instrument made of wood that is shaped like a snake.

For teachers: a bass wind instrument, typically made of wood and leather, with a curved shape resembling a snake.

- The museum has a rare serpent from the 1700s in its music collection.
- The composer included a part for the serpent to provide a deep, haunting tone to the orchestral arrangement.

## Examples

- The ancient story tells of a giant serpent living in the deep sea.
- In many ancient myths, the serpent represents a powerful guardian of hidden treasures or forbidden knowledge.
- The poet uses the image of a shimmering serpent to symbolize the deceptive beauty of the dangerous jungle path.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.