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
arachnid
adjectiveFrom the M-W Editors
Examples of arachnid in a Sentence
Spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks are arachnids.
Recent Examples of arachnid from the Web
-
CBS Detroit reports mother-of-two Jillian Duke found the enormous arachnid lurking in her toddler's bedroom Wednesday morning.
-
Pet blogs for Huntsman spider owners recommend keeping the arachnids in terrariums with cork bark and rocks and providing them with enough vertical space on which to climb.
-
The design is explicitly meant to recall a fountain, but numerous observers on social media have likened it to a spider — and some wags have altered renderings to insert a Godzilla battling the arachnid.
-
Named Caerostris darwini, or Darwin’s bark spider, the inch-wide arachnid’s webs can cover 30-square-foot areas, hanging in midair from 80-foot-long anchor lines.
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.
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.
1826
First Known Use of arachnid
1826
ARACHNID Defined for English Language Learners
arachnid
playDefinition of arachnid for English Language Learners
-
: a kind of animal that has eight legs and a body formed of two parts
Learn More about arachnid
-
See words that rhyme with arachnid Nglish: Translation of arachnid for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about arachnid
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up arachnid? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!