spiderweb

noun spi·der·web \ ˈspī-dər-ˌweb \

Updated on: 12 May 2018

Definition of spiderweb

1 : the network of silken thread spun by most spiders and used as a resting place and as a trap for small prey

2 : something that resembles or suggests a spiderweb

Recent Examples of spiderweb from the Web

And while the murder remains unsolved, efforts to crack the case revealed a spiderweb of gang activity — leading to 85 gang arrests aimed at disrupting the Mexican mafia, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.

— jared gilmour, sacbee, "Christmas murder led to 85 arrests of gang's 'middle management' and 'foot soldiers,' California cops say | The Sacramento Bee," 3 May 2018
The elevator was accessed through iron spiderweb gates.

— rachel aviv, The New Yorker, "Cairo: A Type of Love Story," 30 Apr. 2018
Other favorites are David Allan Coe's suit covered in butterflies, Jimmy Page's dragon suit, Webb Pierce's spiderweb suit, Hank Snow's frog suit.

— liz raiss, GQ, "Meet the Designer Behind Post Malone’s Epic Nudie Suit," 13 Apr. 2018
As instructed, Girl Scout Evelyn began stringing cards with letters written on them onto the green string that connected the dozen girls in a spiderweb of yarn.

— NBC News, "Girl Scouts fight cybercrime with new cybersecurity badge," 4 Mar. 2018
The map of Afghanistan appears as a spiderweb of lines connecting bases, showing supply routes, as does northeast Syria, where the United States maintains a network of mostly unpublicized bases.

— author: liz sly, Anchorage Daily News, "US soldiers are revealing sensitive and dangerous information by jogging," 29 Jan. 2018
The map of Afghanistan appears as a spiderweb of lines connecting bases, showing supply routes, as does northeast Syria, where the United States maintains a network of mostly unpublicized bases.

— idahostatesman, "US soldiers are revealing sensitive and dangerous information just by jogging," 29 Jan. 2018
The map of Afghanistan appears as a spiderweb of lines connecting bases, showing supply routes, as does northeast Syria, where the United States maintains a network of mostly unpublicized bases.

— author: liz sly, Anchorage Daily News, "US soldiers are revealing sensitive and dangerous information by jogging," 29 Jan. 2018
The map of Afghanistan appears as a spiderweb of lines connecting bases, showing supply routes, as does northeast Syria, where the United States maintains a network of mostly unpublicized bases.

— idahostatesman, "US soldiers are revealing sensitive and dangerous information just by jogging," 29 Jan. 2018

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

First Known Use of spiderweb

circa 1649

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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SPIDERWEB Defined for Kids

spiderweb

noun spi·der·web \ ˈspī-dər-ˌweb \

Definition of spiderweb for Students

: the silken web spun by most spiders and used as a resting place and a trap for prey

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See words that rhyme with spiderweb Spanish Central: Translation of spiderweb Nglish: Translation of spiderweb for Spanish speakers

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