Serpent
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A snake. A musical instrument in the brass family, whose shape is suggestive of a snake (Wikipedia article).
Example sentence: Without the power of the Industrial Union behind it, Democracy can only enter the State as the victim enters the gullet of the Serpent.
Dragon
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A legendary, serpentine or reptilian creature.# (Western) A gigantic beast, typically reptilian with leathery bat-like wings, lion-like claws, scaly skin and a serpent-like tail, often a monster with fiery breath.#* c.1900 — Edith Nesbit, The Last of the Dragons#*: But as every well-brought-up prince was expected to kill a dragon, and rescue a princess, the dragons grew fewer and fewer till it was often quite hard for a princess to find a dragon to be rescued from.# (Eastern) A large, snake-like lizard with the eyes of a hare, the horns of a stag and the claws of a tiger, usually benefic#* 1913 — Sax Rohmer, The Insidious Dr. Fu Manchu, ch XIII#*: These tapestries were magnificently figured with golden dragons; and as the serpentine bodies gleamed and shimmered in the increasing radiance, each dragon, I thought, intertwined its glittering coils more closely with those of another.Certain animal species which resemble a dragon in appearance:# A very large snake; a python.# A lizard of the genus Draco.# The Komodo dragon.The constellation Draco.An unpleasant woman; a harridan.(absolute use, often capitalized: "the Dragon") The nickname for the Chinese empire and People's Republic of China(figuratively) Something very formidable or dangerous.
Example sentence: There's how, basically, Son Goku from 'Dragon Ball' doesn't fight for the sake of others but because he wants to fight against strong guys. So once 'Dragon Ball' got animated, at any rate, I've always been dissatisfied with the 'righteous hero'-type portrayal they gave him.