web

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈweb 

1

: a fabric on a loom or in process of being removed from a loom

2

a

: cobweb, spiderweb

b

: a network of silken thread spun especially by the larvae of various insects (such as a tent caterpillar) and usually serving as a nest or shelter

3

: a tissue or membrane of an animal or plant

especially : that uniting fingers or toes either at their bases (as in humans) or for a greater part of their length (as in many waterbirds)

4

a

: a thin metal sheet, plate, or strip

b

: the plate connecting the upper and lower flanges of a girder or rail

c

: the arm of a crank

5

: something resembling a web:

a

: snare, entanglement

a web of intrigue

ensnarled in a web of folly

—D. A. Stockman

b

: an intricate pattern or structure suggestive of something woven : network

6

: the series of barbs on each side of the shaft of a feather : vane

7

a

: a continuous sheet of paper manufactured or undergoing manufacture on a paper machine

b

: a roll of paper for use in a rotary printing press

8

: the part of a ribbed vault between the ribs

9

or Web : world wide web

webbed

ˈwebd 

adjective

weblike

ˈweb-ˌlīk 

adjective

web

2 of 3

verb

webbed; webbing

intransitive verb

: to construct or form a web

transitive verb

1

: to cover with a web or network

2

: ensnare, entangle

3

: to provide with a web

World Wide Web

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a part of the Internet accessed through a graphical user interface and containing documents often connected by hyperlinks

called also web

Synonyms of web

Noun (1)

• tangle
• net
• trap
• labyrinth
• maze
• entanglement
• morass
• noose
• quicksand
• snare

Examples of web in a Sentence

Noun (1)

I spent the afternoon surfing the Web.

The spider was spinning its web.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And finally, phone calls can be tracked alongside web visits and form submissions in one connected view. — Todd Fisher, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026

This feature will roll out soon in the US for web, mobile, and TV users. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026

Verb

The condition of the seat belt webbing and latch may also provide relevant information, and so do load marks, which can support or undercut the claim that the restraint was available and working. — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026

Made from washable webbing with quick-dry lining, these shoes are ready for any kind of adventure without sacrificing your personal style. — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 10 Sep. 2026

Noun

Among other things, the Internet, World Wide Web, early mobile computing, and the Blackberry and iPhone sparked speculation of new forms of consumer marketing. — Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 25 Feb. 2026

Arrival of the web By the mid-1990s, with the introduction of the more user-friendly World Wide Web, bulletin boards fell out of favor. — Michelle Lynn Kahn, The Conversation, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old Norse vefr web, Old English wefan to weave

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1604, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

1990, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing web

• dark web
• deep web
• food web
• orb web
• spider's web
• web belt
• web comic
• web crawler
• web member
• web-offset
• web page
• web press
• web site
• web spinner

Rhymes for web

• deb
• ebb
• cobweb

Kids Definition

web

1 of 2 noun

ˈweb 

1

: a fabric on a loom or in the process of being removed from a loom

2

a

: cobweb sense 1b, spiderweb

b

: a network of threads spun especially by the larvae of various insects (as tent caterpillars) and usually serving as a nest or shelter

c

: something that catches and holds one

spies caught in a web of plots

3

: a membrane of an animal or plant

especially : one uniting toes (as of many waterbirds)

4

: network sense 2

5

capitalized : world wide web

web

2 of 2 verb

webbed; webbing

1

: to make or form a web

2

: to cover or provide with webs or a web

Medical Definition

web

noun

ˈweb 

: a tissue or membrane of an animal or plant

especially : that uniting fingers or toes either at their bases (as in humans) or for a greater part of their length (as in many waterbirds)

webbed

ˈwebd 

adjective