PUFF ADDER

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does puff adder mean? 

• PUFF ADDER (noun)
  The noun PUFF ADDER has 2 senses:

1. large African viper that inflates its body when alarmed

2. harmless North American snake with upturned nose; may spread its head and neck or play dead when disturbed

  Familiarity information: PUFF ADDER used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PUFF ADDER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Large African viper that inflates its body when alarmed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

Bitis arietans; puff adder

Hypernyms ("puff adder" is a kind of...):

viper (venomous Old World snakes characterized by hollow venom-conducting fangs in the upper jaw)

Holonyms ("puff adder" is a member of...):

Bitis; genus Bitis (a genus of Viperidae)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Harmless North American snake with upturned nose; may spread its head and neck or play dead when disturbed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

hognose snake; puff adder; sand viper

Hypernyms ("puff adder" is a kind of...):

colubrid; colubrid snake (mostly harmless temperate-to-tropical terrestrial or arboreal or aquatic snakes)

Holonyms ("puff adder" is a member of...):

genus Heterodon; Heterodon (a genus of small colubrid snakes containing the North American hognose snakes)