: 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
Recent Examples on the WebAs Albania’s ruler, Zog had been a tyrant and a modernizer, a viper and a visionary, intent on obtaining and holding power at any cost. Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2022 In the original myth, Orpheus returns from his expedition with the Argonauts and marries the fair Eurydice, who — of course — dies soon after from a viper bite and descends to the underworld.Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2021 The prosecution called multiple experts who testified the Russell's viper bite was also unnatural. Rhea Mogul And Esha Mitra, CNN, 20 Nov. 2021 But the viper was found in the bedroom of their home's second floor after the first attempt.NBC News, 15 Oct. 2021 An Indian woman presented with multiday visual hallucinations after being bitten by a Russell’s viper. Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 28 Sep. 2021 His pre-op docs discovered undiagnosed cancer had crept in and poisoned his body like a silent viper. Steve West, sun-sentinel.com, 6 Aug. 2021 Despite the secrecy, the critically endangered viper was tracked down within months and put on sale in Europe by German traders. Pavel Toropov, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 June 2021 There is no antivenom for the African bush viper, and bites can cause fevers or internal bleeding, which can be fatal. Wilson Wong, NBC News, 13 Apr. 2021 See More