serpentine

From Middle English serpentine, from Old French serpentin, from Latin serpentīnus, from serpēns (“serpent”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsɜː.pənˌtaɪn/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈsɝ.pənˌtaɪn/

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)pəntaɪn

serpentine (comparative more serpentine, superlative most serpentine)

1. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes.
2. Of, or having attributes associated with, the serpent referred to in the book of Genesis in the Bible, such as craftiness or deceitfulness.

   The wily criminal was known for his serpentine behavior.

3. Having the form or shape of a snake.

   Synonym: ophidian

   There are serpentine species of lizards which do not have legs.

4. Curving in alternate directions; sinuous.

   Synonyms: sinuous, tortuous, winding

   The serpentine path through the mountains was narrow and dangerous.

   • 1855, Robert Browning, “Andrea del Sarto. (Called ‘the Faultless Painter.’)”, in Men and Women […], volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, page 2:

     So! keep looking so— / My serpentining beauty, rounds on rounds!

serpentine (plural serpentines)

1. Any of several plants believed to cure snakebites.
2. (historical) An early form of cannon, used in the 16th century.
3. A kind of firework.
4. A coiled distillation tube.
5. (mathematics) Any of several related cubic curves; anguinea
6. (equestrianism) In dressage, a winding walk across on the arena.
7. (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.
   • 2020, Hilary Mantel, The Mirror and the Light, Fourth Estate, page 394:

     It is reached by five-and-twenty steps of porphyry and serpentine.

8. (geology) An outcrop or region with soil and rock dominated by these minerals.

• (mineral): antigorite, chrysotile, lizardite

serpentine (third-person singular simple present serpentines, present participle serpentining, simple past and past participle serpentined)

1. (archaic) To serpentize; to turn or bend; to meander.
   • 1813, George Nicholson, The Cambrian Traveller's Guidey

     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.

• David Barthelmy (1997–2023), “Serpentine”, in Webmineral Mineralogy Database.
• “serpentine”, in Mindat.org‎, Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, 2000–2023.

• terpinenes

• IPA^(key): /sɛʁ.pɑ̃.tin/

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serpentine

1. feminine singular of serpentin

serpentine f pl

1. feminine plural of serpentino

serpentine f pl

1. plural of serpentina

serpentīne

1. vocative masculine singular of serpentīnus