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Glite Dictionary
Indian cobra

Indian cobra

6.1
A dangerous snake from India with a hood that can kill people
  • noun
  • /ˈɪndiən ˈkoʊbrə/
  • Indian
translation icon : cobra india
  • The Indian cobra can often be found in rural areas of India, where it is both feared and revered.

Examples

  • In many cultures, the Indian cobra is seen as a symbol of protection and power.

  • During the festival, a performer skillfully handled an Indian cobra, showcasing its hooded stance.

  • Your friend was bitten by a large Indian cobra.

    A Thief in the Night (1972)

Synonyms

Naja naja
vsIndian cobra
  • Specialized
9.8

A venomous cobra from India and nearby countries that spreads a hood when threatened

is the common name that adds cultural and regional association

Surface Forms

Indian cobra singular
Indian cobras plural

Morphology

Indian + cobra

The compound 'Indian cobra' is a straightforward adjective + noun composition where 'Indian' specifies origin and 'cobra' names the venomous snake, so the meaning (a cobra native to India) is directly derivable from the parts. This species-naming pattern is cross-linguistically common and therefore immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

Indian cobra joins Indian (from India) and cobra, a word taken from Portuguese that means 'hooded snake'. The picture of a snake lifting its wide 'hood' helps you remember this dangerous snake from India.