Main Entry: spi·der

Pronunciation: \ˈspī-dər\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English spyder, alteration of spithre; akin to Old English spinnan to spin

Date: 15th century

1 : any of an order (Araneae syn. Araneida) of arachnids having the abdomen usually unsegmented and constricted at the base, chelicerae modified into poison fangs, and two or more pairs of abdominal spinnerets for spinning threads of silk for various uses (as in making cocoons for their eggs or webs to catch prey)
2 : a cast-iron frying pan originally made with short feet to stand among coals on the hearth
3 : any of various devices consisting of a frame or skeleton with radiating arms or members

— spi·der·ish \-də-rish\ adjective

— spi·der·like \-dər-ˌlīk\ adjective