krait

noun

: any of a genus (Bungarus) of brightly banded extremely venomous nocturnal elapid snakes of Pakistan, India, southeastern Asia, and adjacent islands

Examples of krait in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Snake Island, where the show staged challenges, was notorious for banded sea kraits and venomous vipers; the island was also a handoff point for pirates, which meant that it was patrolled by Australian special forces. Emily Nussbaum, Vulture, 5 July 2024 In the clip, the mimic octopus impersonates one of these creatures, turning his tentacles into snake-like appendages that are the same colors as a sea krait. Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024 Researchers have created a powerful synthetic antibody that counteracts the deadly venom produced by snakes in the Elapidae family—which includes the black mamba, king cobra and kraits. Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 Groups of five mice were given a life-threatening dose of the toxin from the venom of a krait, mixed with the antibody. Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 Barbed arrow kraits can reach about 3 feet in length, the study said. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2024 When all is said and done, and the blanket removed, there is no krait at all. Vulture, 29 Sep. 2023 Milking a banded krait for venom. Erik Vance, Discover Magazine, 29 July 2013 In the 1950s, two researchers in Taiwan--CY Lee and CC Chang--decided to study the venom of the banded krait. Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Mar. 2011

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu karait

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of krait was in 1874

Dictionary Entries Near krait

Cite this Entry

“Krait.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/krait. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

krait

noun
: any of several brightly banded extremely poisonous Asian snakes

Medical Definition

krait

noun
: any of several brightly banded extremely venomous nocturnal elapid snakes of the genus Bungarus that occur in Pakistan, India, southeastern Asia, and adjacent islands

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