boa constrictor

noun

|Updated on: 19 Jul 2018

Definition of boa constrictor

: a tropical American boa (Boa constrictor synonym Constrictor constrictor) that is light brown barred or mottled with darker brown and reaches a length of 10 feet (3 meters) or more; broadly : boa 1

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Recent Examples of boa constrictor from the Web

Wildlife trapper Bob Cross captured the snake, identified it as a boa constrictor and suffered a bite — but the critter wasn’t venomous.

— hal boedeker, OrlandoSentinel.com, "WKMG anchor spots snake, gets results," 13 July 2018
Nothing is more astounding than the boa constrictors at the Bronx Zoo.

— ernest slyman, New York Times, "Bronx Zoo," 21 June 2018
Although two-headed snakes are rare, there have been several recent reports of sightings, including one earlier this year in Missouri and a boa constrictor in Florida with two heads and two hearts, reported National Geographic.

— brett molina, USA TODAY, "Rare two-headed snake welcomed as a pet by Louisiana woman. Here's how she cares for it," 5 June 2018
Ryan walks into the war room and stops dead in front of a screen displaying what looks like an ultrasound of a boa constrictor.

— genesee keevil, Popular Mechanics, "The Rush: What the World's Greatest Gold Prospector Knows," 17 May 2018
The animal handlers brought a variety of animals with them, including a cockatoo, ferret, cockroaches, and a 9-foot-long boa constrictor.

— michael walsh, Courant Community, "An Animal Visit From Forest Park Zoo," 2 May 2018
And its wide, square stance grips the entire width of the road in a hug as tight as a boa constrictor.

— Fortune, "Lamborghini Echoes Wild Past With 217-MPH Aventador S Roadster for $460,000," 19 Apr. 2018
Apart from the one about the mother-in-law and the sharks...the taxman and the boa constrictor....

— The Economist, "Ken Dodd died on March 11th," 22 Mar. 2018
The close-up photo of a snake, which was taken in the same area, is definitely a boa constrictor.

— carol robinson, AL.com, "Big snake prompts big concern in Birmingham community," 5 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'boa constrictor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of boa constrictor

1771

in the meaning defined above

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BOA CONSTRICTOR Defined for English Language Learners

boa constrictor

noun

Definition of boa constrictor for English Language Learners

: a large brown snake that crushes the animals it eats by squeezing them with its body and that lives in the tropical regions of Central and South America