[spi.der] n [ME spyder, alter. of spithre; akin to OE spinnan to spin] (15c) 1: any of an order (Araneae syn. Araneida) of arachnids having the abdomen usu. unsegmented and constricted at the base, chelicerae modified into poison fangs, and two or more pairs of abdominal spinnerets for spinning threads of silk used in making cocoons for their eggs, nests for themselves, or webs to catch prey
2: a cast-iron frying pan orig. made with short feet to stand among coals on the hearth
3: any of various devices consisting of a frame or skeleton with radiating arms or members -- spi.der.ish adj -- spi.der.like adj