The AI-powered English dictionary
comparative more serpentine, superlative most serpentine
Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes. examples
Of, or having attributes associated with, the serpent referred to in the book of Genesis in the Bible, such as craftiness or deceitfulness. examples
Having the form or shape of a snake. examples
Curving in alternate directions; sinuous. quotations examples
So! keep looking so— / My serpentining beauty, rounds on rounds!
1855, Robert Browning, “Andrea del Sarto. (Called ‘the Faultless Painter.’)”, in Men and Women […], volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, […], page 2
Between Magherafelt and Macfin its length of 29¼ miles made a rather serpentine line on the map, as it attempted to serve the rather scattered towns and villages that lie between the River Bann and the Dungiven Mountains.
1950 December, E. M. Patterson, “An Ulster Round Trip”, in Railway Magazine, page 802
plural serpentines
Any of several plants believed to cure snakebites. examples
(historical) An early form of cannon, used in the 16th century.
A kind of firework. examples
A coiled distillation tube. examples
(mathematics) Any of several related cubic curves; anguinea examples
(equestrianism) In dressage, a winding walk across on the arena. examples
(mineralogy) Any of several green/brown minerals consisting of magnesium and iron silicates that have similar layered crystal structure, whose appearance somewhat resembles a snake's skin. quotations examples
It is reached by five-and-twenty steps of porphyry and serpentine.
2020, Hilary Mantel, The Mirror and the Light, Fourth Estate, page 394
(geology) An outcrop or region with soil and rock dominated by these minerals.
third-person singular simple present serpentines, present participle serpentining, simple past and past participle serpentined
To serpentize; to turn or bend; to meander. quotations examples
There were two little lakes, or rather large pools which stood in the bottom, whence issued a rivulet which serpentined in view for two or three miles, offering a pleasing relief to the eye.
1813, George Nicholson, The Cambrian Traveller's Guidey
The mountains were fully in their gorgeous autumn garb the next morning, as the train serpentined up and up toward the divide.
1912, William B. Simmons, “The First Tripper”, in Hamilton Literary Magazine, volume 47, page 123
Most great mountain riders carve up the slope, serpentining as he climbs up the mountain. A mountain rider will as he loses momentum will turn out a bit, reducing the angle of attack. He will continue carving switchbacks, using body english jumping from one side of his sled to the other, as he continues climbing higher and higher.
2002 April 29, mixgreg, “Mountain Sledding”, in rec.sport.snowmobiles (Usenet)
At least one road here (the one serpentining up the mountain to Urfeld at the Walchensee) is prohibited for bicycles on weekends.
2012 January 29, Hans-Georg Michna, “GPS getting you into trouble”, in alt.satellite.gps.garmin (Usenet)