sneɪk n. & v. --n. 1 a
any long limbless
reptile of
the suborder Ophidia, including boas, pythons,
and poisonous forms
such as cobras and vipers. b a limbless
lizard or
amphibian. 2 (also snake in the grass) a
treacherous person or
secret enemy. 3 (prec. by the) a
system of interconnected
exchange rates
for the
EEC currencies. --v.intr.
move or
twist like a snake. øsnake
bird a fish-eating bird, Anhinga anhinga,
with a long
slender neck. snake-charmer a person appearing to
make snakes move by
music etc. snake-pit 1 a pit containing snakes. 2 a
scene of
vicious behaviour. snakes and ladders a game with counters moved
along a
board with advances up 'ladders' or returns down 'snakes' depicted on the board. snake's
head a
bulbous plant, Fritillaria meleagris, with bell-shaped
pendent flowers. øøsnakelike adj. [OE snaca]