krait

noun

ˈkrīt How to pronounce krait (audio)
Synonyms of kraitnext
: any of a genus (Bungarus) of brightly banded extremely venomous nocturnal elapid snakes of Pakistan, India, southeastern Asia, and adjacent islands

Examples of krait in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Common kraits are often found in human settlements, drawn by the abundance of small prey like rodents and frogs. — Scott Travers, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025 Snake Island, where the show staged challenges, was notorious for banded sea kraits and venomous vipers; the island was also a handoff point for pirates, which meant that it was patrolled by Australian special forces. — Emily Nussbaum, Vulture, 5 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu karait

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of krait was in 1874

Rhymes for krait

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Browse Nearby Words

Kra, Isthmus of
krait
Krakatau
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Cite this Entry

“Krait.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/krait. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

krait

noun
ˈkrīt How to pronounce krait (audio)
: any of several brightly banded extremely poisonous Asian snakes

Medical Definition

krait

noun
ˈkrīt How to pronounce krait (audio)
: any of several brightly banded extremely venomous nocturnal elapid snakes of the genus Bungarus that occur in Pakistan, India, southeastern Asia, and adjacent islands

More from Merriam-Webster on krait

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for krait

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about krait

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