serpentine

UK: /ˈsɜːpənˌtaɪn/, /ˈsɜːpənˌtiː n/

US: /ˈsɝpənˌtin, -ˌtaɪn/

US: (sûr′pən tēn′, -tīn′)

Inflections of 'serpentine' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

serpentines

v 3rd person singular

serpentining

v pres p

serpentined

v past

serpentined

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ser•pen•tine¹ /ˈsɜrpənˌtin, -ˌtaɪn/   adj. 

1. of or relating to a serpent, as in form or movement.
2. having a winding course, as a road;
   twisty.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ser•pen•tine¹  (sûr′pən tēn′, -tīn′), adj., n., v., -tined, -tin•ing. 
adj. 

1. of, characteristic of, or resembling a serpent, as in form or movement.
2. having a winding course, as a road;
   sinuous.
3. shrewd, wily, or cunning.

n. 

4. a device on a harquebus lock for holding the match.
5. a cannon having any of various bore sizes, used from the 15th to the 17th century.
6. Sport [Skating.] a school figure made by skating two figure eights that share one loop.

v.i. 

7. to make or follow a winding course:
   The stream serpentines through the valley.

• Latin serpentīnus snakelike, equivalent. to serpent- serpent + -īnus ine¹
• Middle English (adjective, adjectival) 1350–1400

Synonyms

• 2. twisting, snaking, tortuous.

ser•pen•tine²  (sûr′pən tēn′, -tīn′), n. 

1. Mineralogy a common mineral, hydrous magnesium silicate, H₂Mg₃Si₂O₂, usually oily green and sometimes spotted, occurring in many varieties: used for architectural and decorative purposes.

• Medieval Latin serpentīnum, noun, nominal use. of neuter of serpentīnus serpentine¹
• Middle English serpentyn 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

serpentine / ˈsɜːpənˌtaɪn/ adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling a serpent
2. twisting; winding

Etymology: 14th Century: from Late Latin serpentīnus, from serpēns serpent

serpentine / ˈsɜːpənˌtaɪn/ noun

1. a dark green or brown mineral with a greasy or silky lustre, found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. It is used as an ornamental stone; and one variety (chrysotile) is known as asbestos. Composition: hydrated magnesium silicate. Formula: Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄. Crystal structure: monoclinic

Etymology: 15th Century serpentyn, from Medieval Latin serpentīnum serpentine¹; referring to the snakelike patterns of these minerals