释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024vi•per /ˈvaɪpɚ/USA pronunciation n. [countable]- Reptilesa poisonous snake having a pair of hollow fangs that can be erected for biting and injecting venom:Vipers include the adders, puff adders, and pit vipers.
- a spiteful or treacherous person.
vi•per•ous, adj. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024vi•per (vī′pər),USA pronunciation n. - Reptilesany of several venomous Old World snakes of the genus Vipera, esp. V. berus, a small snake common in northern Eurasia.
- Reptilesany related snakes belonging to the family Viperidae, characterized by erectile, venom-conducting fangs.
- ReptilesSee pit viper.
- Reptilesany of various venomous or supposedly venomous snakes.
- a malignant or spiteful person.
- a false or treacherous person.
- Military(cap.) a 9-pound (4 kg), shoulder-launched, unguided U.S. Army antitank rocket with an effective range of 273 yds. (250 m).
- to nourish a viper in one's bosom, to befriend a person who proves to be treacherous.
- Latin vīpera, haplological variant of *vīvipera, noun, nominal use of feminine of *vīviper, later (as re-formation) vīviparus viviparous
- 1520–30
vi′per•ish, adj. vi′per•ish•ly, adv. Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: viper /ˈvaɪpə/ n - any venomous Old World snake of the family Viperidae, esp any of the genus Vipera (the adder and related forms), having hollow fangs in the upper jaw that are used to inject venom
- any of various other snakes, such as the horned viper
- a malicious or treacherous person
Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin vīpera, perhaps from vīvus living + parere to bear, referring to a tradition that the viper was viviparous |