noun
viper
VYP
noun
1
A venomous snake, especially one of the family that includes adders and rattlesnakes.
"The hikers gave the sunbathing viper a wide berth."
"A viper bite can be dangerous without prompt treatment."
2
A treacherous, spiteful, or dangerous person.
"She called her ex-business partner a viper who'd stab anyone in the back for profit."
How to Use Viper
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA poisonous snake, or, describing a person, someone sly and dangerous to trust.
Common pairings
a nest of vipers
a venomous viper
Word Forms
vipers plural
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The hikers gave the sunbathing _____ a wide berth.
Etymology
From Latin vipera, itself a contraction of vivipara ("bringing forth live young"), since vipers give birth to live offspring rather than laying eggs.