: any of several venomous Asian and African elapid snakes (genera Naja and Ophiophagus) that when excited expand the skin of the neck into a hood by movement of the anterior ribs
also
: any of several related African snakes
Examples of cobra in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Over about two decades, Tim Friede has allowed venomous snakes to bite him hundreds of times, including Egyptian cobras, black mambas and diamondbacks.
—
Lillian Ali, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2025
Yoga poses, including cat/cow, child’s pose, sphinx, and cobra may also help.
—Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 5 May 2025
The antibody provided mice with full protection against five snakes - the black mamba and a mix of cobras.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 2 May 2025
The snakes come from the elapid family and include cobras, mambas, taipans, coral snakes, and kraits — among other venomous species.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cobra
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Lillian Ali, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2025
Yoga poses, including cat/cow, child’s pose, sphinx, and cobra may also help.
—Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 5 May 2025
The antibody provided mice with full protection against five snakes - the black mamba and a mix of cobras.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 2 May 2025
The snakes come from the elapid family and include cobras, mambas, taipans, coral snakes, and kraits — among other venomous species.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cobra
Cite this Entry
“Cobra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cobra. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cobra
noun
co·bra
ˈkō-brə 
: any of several poisonous Asian and African snakes that when excited expand the skin of the neck into a hood
also
: any of several related African snakes
Etymology
from Portuguese cobra (de capello) "snake (with a hood)," from Latin colubra "snake"
Word Origin
During the early part of the 16th century, Portuguese traders took control of cities along India's western coast. During this period of contact, the Portuguese became familiar with some of India's animal life. One animal they noticed was a poisonous snake that could expand the skin of its neck to form a hood. The Portuguese called this snake cobra de capello, meaning "snake with a hood." The Portuguese name was first borrowed into English in the 17th century. By the 19th century the name had become shortened to cobra.
Medical Definition
cobra
noun
co·bra
ˈkō-brə
1
: any of several very venomous Asian and African elapid snakes of the genera Naja and Ophiophagus that when excited expand the skin of the neck into a broad hood by movement of the anterior ribs see indian cobra, king cobra
2
: either of two African snakes that spit their venom from a distance:
b
: ringhals
3
: mamba
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