mamba

Thân thiện

A green mamba rests coiled on a tree branch in the forest.

Definition

Noun 1. A highly venomous, fast-moving, arboreal snake native to central and southern Africa. It belongs to the genus Dendroaspis and its bite is often fatal without prompt treatment.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The black mamba is one of the world's fastest and most dangerous snakes.
  • Researchers studied the mamba's potent neurotoxic venom.
  • A green mamba was spotted coiled on a tree branch.

Advanced Usage

• "as fast/quick as a mamba": An informal simile describing something or someone that moves with extreme speed and suddenness.
  • The boxer's jab was as quick as a mamba.
• In herpetology and wildlife contexts, the term is used specifically for the four species within the genus : the black mamba, green mamba, Jameson's mamba, and the western green mamba.

Variants and Related Words

• Black mamba (): A specific, particularly large and aggressive species of mamba, known for the dark interior of its mouth rather than its skin color.
• Green mamba ( and ): Arboreal species with bright green coloration.

Synonyms

• Elapid: A broader term for snakes in the family Elapidae, which includes mambas, cobras, and coral snakes.
• Arboreal snake: A descriptive term for any tree-dwelling snake.

Related Idioms or Phrases

• While not a common idiom, the word "mamba" is famously associated with the nickname "Black Mamba" used by basketball player Kobe Bryant, symbolizing agility, precision, and a lethal competitive instinct.

Học thuật

Noun

1. arboreal snake of central and southern Africa whose bite is often fatal