■ noun
1》 an eight-legged predatory arachnid with an unsegmented body consisting of a fused head and thorax and a rounded abdomen, most kinds of which spin webs in which to capture insects. [Order Araneae.]
↘used in names of other arachnids, e.g. sea ~ .
2》 a long-legged rest for a billiard cue that can be placed over a ball without touching it.
3》 Brit. a set of radiating elastic ties used to hold a load in place on a vehicle.
4》 Computing another term for crawler (in sense 2).
■ verb
1》 move in a scuttling manner.
2》 form a pattern suggestive of a ~ or its web.
Derivatives
~ish adjective
Origin
OE spīthra , from spinnan (see spin ).