taipan

Thân thiện

A taipan rests on a sunlit rock in the Australian outback.

Definition

Noun: 1. A large, highly venomous snake native to northeastern Australia and New Guinea: A taipan is a species of elapid snake known for its potent venom, size, and speed. It is considered one of the world's most dangerous snakes.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The coastal taipan is one of the most feared snakes in Australia.
  • Researchers are studying the venom of the taipan for potential medical applications.
  • If you encounter a taipan in the wild, it is crucial to keep a safe distance.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in herpetology (the study of reptiles and amphibians) and in discussions about dangerous wildlife.
• It can be used metaphorically to describe something extremely dangerous or formidable, though this is a less common literary usage.
  • The corporate takeover bid was a financial taipan, striking quickly and with deadly effect.

Variants and Related Words

• Coastal taipan (): The specific species found in northern and eastern Australia and New Guinea.
• Inland taipan (): Also known as the "fierce snake," a related species found in central-east Australia, often noted as having the most toxic venom of any land snake.

Synonyms

• Elapid snake (scientific classification)
• Venomous serpent (general descriptive term)

Related Phrases

• As dangerous as a taipan: An idiomatic comparison to emphasize extreme danger.
  • That untreated electrical fault is as dangerous as a taipan.

Học thuật

Noun

1. large highly venomous snake of northeastern Australia

Từ đồng nghĩa

• oxyuranus scutellatus