arachnid

noun

arach·nid | \ ə-ˈrak-nəd ,

-ˌnid \

Definition of arachnid

: any of a class (Arachnida) of arthropods comprising chiefly terrestrial invertebrates, including the spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks, and having a segmented body divided into two regions of which the anterior bears four pairs of legs but no antennae

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Did You Know?

The term arachnid refers to a class of animals that includes spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks. Most arachnids have a segmented body divided into two regions, with the front part bearing four pairs of legs, but no antennae. They have a hard external skeleton and range in size from the mite, which is 0.003-in (0.08-mm) long, to the 8-in (21-cm) black scorpion of Africa. As arachnids grow, they molt, or shed their skin, several times. Arachnids are primarily carnivorous, but most are unable to digest food internally, instead they inject their prey with digestive fluids, then suck the liquefied remains. Arachnids are found worldwide in nearly every habitat. Some mites and ticks are parasitic and can carry diseases. Venomous spiders and scorpions also may pose a danger to humans, but most arachnids are harmless and prey only on insects.

Examples of arachnid in a Sentence

Spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks are arachnids.

Recent Examples on the Web

Most scientists assumed spiders simply sail on the wind, but this didn’t explain how the arachnids traveled so far in light winds. — Renae Reints, Fortune, "Spiders Can Fly Through the Air for Miles Using Electricity, Study Finds," 6 July 2018 Sméagol, better known as the hobbitses-hating Gollum, is the namesake of yet another arachnid, Landumoema smeagol. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Introducing a Hairy-Footed Shrimp Named After Bilbo Baggins," 13 June 2018 While scientists have long known about ballooning, the mechanisms of this remarkable arachnid ability are not well understood. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Before Soaring Through the Air, Tiny Crab Spiders Study the Wind," 18 June 2018 Eventually, the team ventures deep underground to find an aggressive arachnid-like boss creature, the Swarm Tyrant. — Patrick Shanley, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Anthem' Producer Promises Game Will Offer a "Totally Different Experience" Every Time It's Played," 5 July 2018 The culprit is a small arachnid: the lone star tick. — Thomas Leavy, CBS News, "Maine on the lookout for ticks that cause red-meat allergy," 25 June 2018 These are red mites, not a bug, but an arachnid, which makes them related to spiders. — Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp, Indianapolis Star, "The Hoosier Gardener: Tiny mites leave red stains," 15 June 2018 According to the scientist, who specializes in insect identification and systematics, the arachnids are rarely aggressive or dangerous. — Fiza Pirani, ajc, "Why you shouldn’t kill that spider in your home," 30 May 2018 Jacob Collins, an employee at Godfrey Marine, said the photogenic arachnid was noticed Tuesday while employees were building a boat. — Justin L. Mack, Indianapolis Star, "Here's what that giant, viral Indiana spider actually is," 7 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'arachnid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

19 Aug 2018

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Time Traveler for arachnid

The first known use of arachnid was in 1826

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More Definitions for arachnid

arachnid

noun

English Language Learners Definition of arachnid

: a kind of animal that has eight legs and a body formed of two parts

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