Orb-weaver

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  orb weaver \orb" weav`er\, orb-weaver \orb"-weav`er\, n.
     Any spider of the family {Araneidae} (called also
     {Argiopidae}) that spins a web with a pattern of lines
     spiraling outward from the center. They have eight similar
     eyes. The golden orb weaver, {Mephila clavipes}, is known for
     the remarkable dragline silk it produces for use as a frame


     for its web and as a line on which it can plummet down and
     nab prey. This silk has a high tensile strength and is
     stronger than the toughest current synthetic polymer
     (Kevlar).
     [PJC]