viper

noun vi·per \ ˈvī-pər \

Definition of viper

1 a :a common Eurasian venomous snake (Vipera berus) that attains a length of about two feet (0.6 meter), varies in color from red, brown, or gray with dark markings to black, and is usually not fatal to humans; broadly :any of a family (Viperidae) of venomous snakes that includes Old World snakes (subfamily Viperinae) and the pit vipers

b :a venomous or reputedly venomous snake

2 :a vicious or treacherous person

See viper defined for English-language learners

See viper defined for kids

Examples of viper in a Sentence

a viper sliding silently through the field

Recent Examples of viper from the Web

It was announced in 2016 that the 2017 model year would be the last for Viper production.

— lisa marie segarra, Fortune, "Detroit Viper Factory Closing After Fiat Chrysler Stops Production," 14 July 2017
Many events, including car and coffee Saturday morning, Carini’s seminar on finding classic cars and the Viper roundtable that includes Ralph Gilles, are free.

— mark phelan, Detroit Free Press, "Concours rolls out car thrills from million-dollar classics to barn finds," 8 July 2017
Copperheads belong to a sub-family of snakes (crotalinae) known as pit vipers, a group that includes cottonmouths and rattlesnakes.

— francis skalicky, USA TODAY, "Dispelling the myths surrounding copperhead snakes," 6 July 2017
A fingertip had to be amputated after an encounter with a horned viper dissolved some of its bone.

— malia wollan, New York Times, "How to Hold a Venomous Snake," 30 June 2017
But the comment also verifies press reports that this White House is a nest of vipers.

— jeet heer, New Republic, "Steve Bannon fat-shaming Sean Spicer is everything that’s wrong with the White House.," 20 June 2017
In earlier work, Huang, Tseng and their colleagues found that trowaglerix from the venom of Tropidolaemus wagleri, commonly known as Wagler's pit viper, latched onto glycoprotein VI, a protein that sits on the surface of platelets.

— susan scutti, CNN, "Snake venom is key ingredient in experimental drug for heart patients," 8 June 2017
Waters said his Viper demo team is scheduled on the air show circuit through November with few days off.

— helen wolt, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Air show pilots engage with local community," 31 May 2017
Character: ViperSince 1986: Listen, Tom Skerritt has had a very long and illustrious career.

— libby hill, latimes.com, "It's been 31 years. Where is the 'Top Gun' cast now?," 24 May 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of viper

Middle English vipere, from Latin vipera

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First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

viper Synonyms

Synonyms

serpent, snake

VIPER Defined for English Language Learners

viper

noun

Definition of viper for English Language Learners

: a type of poisonous snake

VIPER Defined for Kids

viper

noun vi·per \ ˈvī-pər \

Definition of viper for Students

:a poisonous heavy-bodied snake with long hollow fangs

Medical Dictionary

viper

noun vi·per \ ˈvī-pər \

medical Definition of viper

1 :a common Eurasian venomous snake of the genus Vipera (V. berus) that attains a length of about two feet (0.6 meter), varies in color from red, brown, or gray with dark markings to black, and whose bite is usually not fatal to humans; broadly :any snake of an Old World subfamily (Viperinae) of the family Viperidae

2 :pit viper

3 :a venomous or reputedly venomous snake