| 释义 |
ser·pen·tine
I. \ˈsərpən.ˌtēn, -tīn\ adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French serpentin, from Late Latin serpentinus, from Latin serpent-, serpens serpent + -inus -ine
1. : relating to a serpent : resembling a serpent (as in form or movement)
< the muscular line moved and swayed in a serpentine rhythm — Margaret Long >
2. : relating to or like the serpent as typifying Satan : subtly wily or tempting : guileful, diabolic
< the serpentine will to power — J.C.Powys >
< an inescapable fascination of a serpentine kind — Richard Watts >
< that serpentine plotter — R.B.Morris >
3. : winding or turning one way and another : meandering, sinuous
< a serpentine road >
< a serpentine wall >
< serpentine braid >
< these essays … in their intricate and serpentine manner — R.W.B.Lewis >
4. : having a compound curve whose central curve is convex — used especially of the front of a piece of cabinet furniture; opposed to oxbow
II. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
intransitive verb
: to move like a serpent : wind along
< the trail serpentining down — Carl Jonas >
< behind them serpentined the long line of yoked couples — C.S.Forester >
transitive verb
: to take by a serpentine course or serpentine methods : insinuate
III. noun
(-s)
1. : something (as a line, a wall, or a section of road) that winds sinuously
< the cart wheeled round the steep serpentines — Marcia Davenport >
specifically : a file (as of people) moving in a sinuous or winding line
< a few minor processions along with any number of spontaneous serpentines — Ray Duncan >
— compare crocodile
2.
a. or serpentine dance : a mixed group dance in single file with a leader guiding a wavering snakelike course along the ground — compare farandole, snake dance 2
b. : a show dance with sinuous manipulation of streamers
3. : a skating figure in which the skater executes a series of usually three circles requiring changes of edge
4. : a light green that is deeper and very slightly bluer than average mint green and bluer and deeper than variscite green — compare serpentine green
IV. noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English, the rock serpentine, from Medieval Latin serpentina, serpentinum, from Late Latin, feminine & neuter of serpentinus resembling a serpent
1. : chrysotile
2. : antigorite
3. : a rock composed of chrysotile and antigorite often in layers with or without other minerals having usually a dull green color often with a spotted or mottled appearance or a red or brownish hue due to the presence of iron, occurring in masses (as antigorite) or in fibrous form (as chrysotile), resulting from the alteration of other magnesian minerals (as olivine, amphibole, and pyroxene), and used as an ornamental stone — compare asbestos
4. or serpentine soil : soil formed by the weathering of serpentine rock
V. noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French serpentin, from serpentin resembling a serpent, from Late Latin serpentinus
1. : a cannon of the 15th to 17th centuries of various calibers usually longer and lighter than a bombard
2. : a serpentine attachment of a harquebus lock to hold the match
VI. \-tēn\ noun
also ser·pen·tin \-tan\
(-s)
Etymology: French serpentin, from serpentin resembling a serpent, from Middle French
1. : long narrow strips of rolled colored paper thrown (as at a carnival or party) so as to unroll as streamers
< everyone throws serpentine and confetti — Bess A. Garner >
2. : a piece of serpentine
< various kinds of noisemakers and serpentines at each place — Los Angeles (Calif.) Examiner > |