What does spiderweb mean?
A spiderweb is the delicate, intricate structure that a spider builds from silk, usually with radiating threads connected by finer cross-threads. It can be found across windows, fences, vegetation, and other sheltered spaces, and it is especially striking when covered with dew or dust. The word also has a figurative meaning: a spiderweb can describe any complex network of people, organizations, roads, or financial arrangements, often with the suggestion that the connections are tangled or difficult to untangle. “Spiderweb” is used in British and American English, though “spider’s web” is perhaps more traditional in British usage. The word is useful because it combines a familiar natural object with a vivid image for systems that spread outward and connect in many directions.
nounA web made by a spider, consisting of fine, interconnected threads. The word can also refer figuratively to a complex, tangled network or pattern of connections.
- A web constructed by a spider, made of silk threads.
- A network or arrangement of interconnected lines, resembling a spiderweb.
"A delicate spiderweb stretched between the branches of the old oak."
"Morning dew shimmered across the spiderweb beside the garden gate."
"The investigation revealed a spiderweb of subsidiaries connected through shell companies."
The plural is formed by adding “-s.”
"Several spiderwebs glistened between the hedges."
A spiderweb turns one of nature’s most efficient hunters into a beautiful symbol of connection, patience, and intricate design.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does spiderweb come from?
“Spiderweb” is a compound formed in English from “spider” and “web.” Both elements have Old English origins: “spider” is related to Old English “spyndra,” while “web” comes from Old English “webba.” The compound describes the characteristic silk structure produced by spiders and is not directly borrowed from another language.
How spiderweb is actually used
The word is common in both British and American English, although British speakers also frequently use the expression “spider’s web.” In figurative use, “spiderweb” usually suggests a complicated or somewhat tangled network.
Easily confused with spiderweb
A cobweb is specifically an old or abandoned spiderweb, often found indoors, whereas a spiderweb is the general term for a web made by a spider.