spider
SPEYE-duh
Spider (noun) means an eight-legged creature, many of which spin webs to catch insects. Example: “The spider waited quietly in the corner of its web for a fly.”
noun
1
An eight-legged creature, many of which spin webs to catch insects.
"The spider waited quietly in the corner of its web for a fly."
"A large spider had spun its web across the porch overnight."
"She screamed when a spider dropped from the ceiling."
2
A computer program that automatically browses the web, following links to collect information (also called a web crawler).
"The company's spider visits thousands of web pages every hour to update its search index."
"Search engines use spiders to index new pages across the internet."
"The site blocked the spider after it made too many requests too quickly."
How to use spider
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe eight-legged arachnid, or, in tech, an automated program that scans web pages.
Common pairings
spider web
search engine spider
a spider bite
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Word forms
- Plural
- spiders
- Third person singular
- spiders
- Past tense
- spidered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ waited quietly in the corner of its web for a fly.
Etymology
From Old English spīþra, ultimately from the Germanic root behind "spin" — a spider is literally "the spinning one."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for spider
See all rhymes for spider →Frequently asked questions
What does “spider” mean?
The word “spider” means an eight-legged creature, many of which spin webs to catch insects. In plain terms, the eight-legged arachnid, or, in tech, an automated program that scans web pages.
How do you pronounce “spider”?
“Spider” is pronounced SPEYE-duh (/ˈspaɪ̯dɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “spider” in a sentence?
Here is “spider” used in a sentence: “A large spider had spun its web across the porch overnight.”
What part of speech is “spider”?
“Spider” is a noun.
Where does the word “spider” come from?
The word “spider” comes from Old English. From Old English spīþra, ultimately from the Germanic root behind "spin" — a spider is literally "the spinning one.".
Is “spider” a common word?
“Spider” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “spider” have?
“Spider” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an eight-legged creature, many of which spin webs to catch insects.
What is the difference between a spider and an insect?
A spider has eight legs and is an arachnid, not an insect. Insects have six legs, so despite the common assumption, spiders are technically not insects.
Why is a web crawler called a spider?
The program moves across the World Wide Web by following links from page to page, much like a spider travelling across its web. This is why an automatic web-browsing program is nicknamed a spider.
What is the difference between a spider and a web crawler in computing?
In computing the two terms mean the same thing: a program that automatically browses the web and follows links to collect information. Spider is the older, more informal name, while web crawler is the more technical term.
What are common phrases that use spider?
Everyday collocations include spider web, spider bite, and search engine spider. The first two relate to the creature, while the last relates to the web-crawling program.
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