Meaning & use
spiderweb
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A net of thin silk threads made by a spider to catch insects.
Grammar: Countable: you can say a spiderweb or spiderwebs.
Patterns
- a spiderweb of something
- spin a spiderweb
A spiderweb stretched between the branches, shining with dew.
The spiderweb trembled as a fly hit the threads.
She cleaned the spiderweb from the corner of the window.
nouncountablefigurative
A tangled or complicated arrangement that looks like a spider's web.
Grammar: Often used figuratively: a spiderweb of roads, lies, etc.
Patterns
- a spiderweb of something
The city is a spiderweb of narrow streets.
His story was a spiderweb of lies.
A spiderweb of cracks spread across the windshield.
Word forms
| plural | spiderwebs |
|---|
Common combinations
- spin a spiderweb
- The spider spins a spiderweb every morning.
- a spiderweb of cracks
- A spiderweb of cracks appeared on the old mirror.
- covered in spiderwebs
- The attic was covered in spiderwebs.
- sticky spiderweb
- The sticky spiderweb caught the mosquito.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
Commonly confused: spiderweb or cobweb?
spiderweb vs cobweb
A cobweb is usually an old, dusty web; a spiderweb is often new and in use. In everyday speech, cobweb can also mean any dusty web in a house.
Practice
The spider ______ a spiderweb between the two leaves.
Choose one answer.
Spins is the usual verb for how a spider produces silk to form a web. Weaves is used for cloth or baskets, and builds and makes are too general here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “spiderweb”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.