web en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /wɛb/
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *webʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *webaną Proto-Germanic *wabją Old English webb Middle English web English web From Middle English web, webbe, from Old English webb, from Proto-West Germanic *wabi, from Proto-Germanic *wabją (“web”), from Proto-Germanic *webaną (“to weave”), from Proto-Indo-European *webʰ- (“to braid, weave”). Cognates Cognate with Scots wab (“web”), North Frisian wääb (“web”), Saterland Frisian Wäb (“web”), West Frisian and Dutch web (“web”), Danish væv (“web”), Faroese vevur (“web”), Icelandic vefur (“web”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk vev (“web”), Swedish väv (“web”); also Cornish goghi (“wasps”), Irish foich, foiche, puch (“wasp”), Welsh gwchi (“drone”), Latin vespa (“wasp”), Ancient Greek ὑφή (huphḗ, “web”), ὑφαίνω (huphaínō, “to weave”) (whence Greek ανυφαίνω (anyfaíno), υφαίνω (yfaíno, “to weave”)), Albanian vej (“to weave”), Latvian lapsene (“wasp”), Lithuanian vapsvà (“wasp”), Old Prussian wobse (“wasp”), Belarusian аса́ (asá, “wasp”), Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian, and Ukrainian оса́ (osá, “wasp”), Czech vosa (“wasp”), Polish, Slovak, and Slovene osa (“wasp”), Serbo-Croatian о̀са, òsa (“wasp”), Armenian մոզ (moz, “a kind of fly that bites horses and cattle”), Northern Kurdish moz (“hornet; wasp”), Persian بافتن (bâftan, “to weave”), Tocharian A wäp- (“to weave”), Tocharian B wāp- (“to weave”), Sanskrit उभ्नाति (ubhnāti, “to hurt, kill; to cover; fill”).
Meanings
-
The silken structure which a spider builds using silk secreted from the spinnerets at the caudal tip of its abdomen; a spiderweb.
The sunlight glistened in the dew on the web.
- The silken structure which a spider builds using silk secreted from the spinnerets at the caudal tip of its abdomen; a spiderweb. ▸ Any of several similar materials, such as that created by tent caterpillars.
-
(broadly) Any interconnected set of persons, places, or things, which, when diagrammed, resembles a spider's web.
The time of his birth, his birth-place, his parentage, are all involved in obscurity; and such has been the perplexing ingenuity of commentators, that it is difficult to extricate the truth from the web of conjectures with which it is interwoven.
1828, Washington Irving, “Birth, Parentage, and Education of Columbus”, in A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus. […], volume I, New York, N.Y.: G. & C. Carvill, […], →OCLC, book I, page 3:[T]he blame must rest on the sombre spirit of our forefathers, who wove their web of life with hardly a single thread of rose-color or gold, and not on me, who have a tropic-love of sunshine, and would gladly gild all the world with it, if I knew where to find so much.
1851 (indicated as 1852), Nathaniel Hawthorne, “Main-Street”, in The Snow-Image, and Other Twice-Told Tales, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, →OCLC, page 96:"But THAT! Was the OLDEN TIMES! A massive, worldwide web of global information has ENTANGLED THE WORLD! People in Beijing can read about a magical incident in Moperville in seconds, and have video of it in minutes!"
2018 February 14, Dan Shive, El Goonish Shive (webcomic), Comic for Wednesday, Feb 14, 2018:
-
(broadly, figuratively) Any interconnected set of persons, places, or things, which, when diagrammed, resembles a spider's web. ▸ A scheme.
web of lies
She got lost in a web of international intrigue.
- (Internet, broadly) Any interconnected set of persons, places, or things, which, when diagrammed, resembles a spider's web. ▸ The Internet; the World Wide Web.
-
(US, broadly, dated) Any interconnected set of persons, places, or things, which, when diagrammed, resembles a spider's web. ▸ A major broadcasting network.
[…] the first big move toward a contract for television performers was made Friday (20) when the webs agreed to pay them according to the length of the show. […] Altho the major TV webs — NBC and CBS — may fall in line soon, an agreement may possibly be held up by the opposition of DuMont […]
1950, Billboard, volume 62, number 43, page 9:ABC-TV this week put into effect its long anticipated plans to move into daytime programming in a bigger way by opening up its 4-5 across-the-board strip. The web is using its "Mickey Mouse Club," which is stoutly anchored in the 5-6 p.m. slot, as a backing up point for its afternoon expansion.
1955, Billboard, page 5:
-
A latticed or woven structure.
The gazebo’s roof was a web made of thin strips of wood.
The colonists were forbidden to manufacture any woollen, or linen, or cotton fabrics ; not a web might be woven, not a shuttle thrown, on penalty of exile.
1866, George Bancroft, “New Netherland”, in History of the United States of America, from the Discovery of the American Continent, 21st edition, volume II, Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, page 281:
-
A latticed or woven structure. ▸ The part of a baseball mitt between the forefinger and thumb, the webbing.
He caught the ball in the web.
- (dated) A latticed or woven structure. ▸ A band of webbing used to regulate the extension of the hood of a carriage.
-
(qualifier:"weave"; or similar verbs; "weave"; or similar verbs, usually, with "spin") Senses related to an invented narrative ▸ A tall tale with more complexity than a myth or legend.
Careful—she knows how to spin a good web, but don't lean too hard on what she says.
a tangled web of deception
- Senses related to an invented narrative ▸ A plot or scheme.
- Any of several components that connect other components. ▸ The interconnection between flanges in structural members, increasing the effective lever arm and so the load capacity of the member.
- Any of several components that connect other components. ▸ The thinner vertical section of a railway rail between the top (head) and bottom (foot) of the rail.
- Any of several components that connect other components. ▸ A fold of tissue connecting the toes of certain birds or of other animals.
- Any of several components that connect other components. ▸ A fold of tissue connecting the toes of certain birds or of other animals. ▸ The abnormal webbing sometimes present between the fingers or toes in humans.
- Any of several components that connect other components. ▸ A section of a groin vault, separated by ribs.
- A thin metal sheet, plate, or strip, as of lead. ▸ A continuous strip of material carried by rollers during processing.
- A thin metal sheet, plate, or strip, as of lead. ▸ A long sheet of paper which is fed from a roll into a printing press, as opposed to individual sheets of paper.
- A thin metal sheet, plate, or strip, as of lead. ▸ The blade of a saw.
- A thin metal sheet, plate, or strip, as of lead. ▸ The thin, sharp part of a colter.
- A thin metal sheet, plate, or strip, as of lead. ▸ The bit of a key.
-
(obsolete) A seventeenth-century unit of Rhenish glass containing 60 bunches.
[…] And there with ſtately pompe by heapes they wend, / And Chriſtians ſlaine rolle vp in webs of lead […]
1600, [Torquato Tasso], “The Tenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold] Hatfield, for I[saac] Iaggard and M[atthew] Lownes, →OCLC, stanza 26, page 184:
-
(obsolete) A seventeenth-century unit of Rhenish glass containing 60 bunches. ▸ The blade of a sword.
Argant a ſword, whereof the web was ſteele, / Pommell, rich ſtone ; hilts, gold, approu’d by tuch, / With rareſt workmanſhip all forged weele, / The curious art exceld the ſubſtance much.
1600, [Torquato Tasso], “The Second Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold] Hatfield, for I[saac] Iaggard and M[atthew] Lownes, →OCLC, stanza 93, page 38:
- The series of barbs implanted on each side of the shaft of a feather, whether stiff and united together by barbules, as in ordinary feathers, or soft and separate, as in downy feathers.
- (archaic) A cataract of the eye.
- (obsolete) Woven cloth or material.
-
(obsolete) Woven cloth or material. ▸ A piece of cloth or fabric, as off the loom or being removed from a loom.
She was presented with webs of the finest cloth, and with boxes of precious ointments.
1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume II, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 165:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| webs | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Deriveds
web content (Derived terms of "web") · cosmic web (Derived terms of "web") · webcast (Derived terms of "web") · web drama (Derived terms of "web") · webless (Derived terms of "web") · foodweb (Derived terms of "web") · webcomic (Derived terms of "web") · webspinner (Derived terms of "web") · webgame (Derived terms of "web") · webname (Derived terms of "web") · webbed (Derived terms of "web") · web of trust (Derived terms of "web") · webathon (Derived terms of "web") · web-headed (Derived terms of "web") · webography (Derived terms of "web") · webshop (Derived terms of "web") · webliography (Derived terms of "web") · funnel-web spider (Derived terms of "web") · unweb (Derived terms of "web") · webzine (Derived terms of "web") · what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive (Derived terms of "web") · webnovel (Derived terms of "web") · invisible web (Derived terms of "web") · nursery web spider (Derived terms of "web") · Geoweb (Derived terms of "web") · weblike (Derived terms of "web") · nanoweb (Derived terms of "web") · outerweb (Derived terms of "web") · webpage (Derived terms of "web") · web server (Derived terms of "web") · web-footed (Derived terms of "web") · spider's web (Derived terms of "web") · crankweb (Derived terms of "web") · webcartoonist (Derived terms of "web") · webwork (Derived terms of "web") · webmail (Derived terms of "web") · webby (Derived terms of "web") · webeye (Derived terms of "web") · weblish (Derived terms of "web") · webserver (Derived terms of "web") · web scraping (Derived terms of "web") · Welsh web (Derived terms of "web") · webbased (Derived terms of "web") · web conference (Derived terms of "web") · websurfer (Derived terms of "web") · web-browser (Derived terms of "web") · web-footed gecko (Derived terms of "web") · web dev (Derived terms of "web") · web celeb (Derived terms of "web") · web-page (Derived terms of "web") · microweb (Derived terms of "web") · web-based (Derived terms of "web") · web browser (Derived terms of "web") · funnel-web (Derived terms of "web") · wood wide web (Derived terms of "web") · webroot (Derived terms of "web") · webcam (Derived terms of "web") · web app (Derived terms of "web") · web-hosting (Derived terms of "web") · webmoth (Derived terms of "web") · web feed (Derived terms of "web") · webconference (Derived terms of "web") · web developer (Derived terms of "web") · weblog (Derived terms of "web") · weblogger (Derived terms of "web") · websurf (Derived terms of "web") · weblication (Derived terms of "web") · webring (Derived terms of "web") · webstore (Derived terms of "web") · web address (Derived terms of "web") · webcasting (Derived terms of "web") · webworm (Derived terms of "web") · webtop (Derived terms of "web") · progressive web app (Derived terms of "web") · webchat (Derived terms of "web") · web color (Derived terms of "web") · funnel web (Derived terms of "web") · web designer (Derived terms of "web") · web page (Derived terms of "web") · web series (Derived terms of "web") · website (Derived terms of "web") · surface web (Derived terms of "web") · web chart (Derived terms of "web") · dark web (Derived terms of "web") · web development (Derived terms of "web") · webhook (Derived terms of "web") · webwinkel (Derived terms of "web") · deep web (Derived terms of "web") · web application (Derived terms of "web") · web television (Derived terms of "web") · web-site (Derived terms of "web") · web diving (Derived terms of "web") · Weblish (Derived terms of "web") · orb-web spider (Derived terms of "web") · weblogging (Derived terms of "web") · webcap (Derived terms of "web") · spider-web (Derived terms of "web") · web chat (Derived terms of "web") · websleuth (Derived terms of "web") · webbook (Derived terms of "web") · rebracketing (Derived terms of "web") · intellectual dark web (Derived terms of "web") · Sydney funnel-web spider (Derived terms of "web") · web host (Derived terms of "web") · webblog (Derived terms of "web") · webinar (Derived terms of "web") · webphone (Derived terms of "web") · webhost (Derived terms of "web") · web site (Derived terms of "web") · webmag (Derived terms of "web") · webfoot (Derived terms of "web") · webber (Derived terms of "web") · spider in the web doctrine (Derived terms of "web") · webtoon (Derived terms of "web") · WebDAV (Derived terms of "web") · webmistress (Derived terms of "web") · webbing (Derived terms of "web") · haploweb (Derived terms of "web") · web-toed (Derived terms of "web") · innerweb (Derived terms of "web") · progressive web application (Derived terms of "web") · web moth (Derived terms of "web") · tangled web (Derived terms of "web") · webhead (Derived terms of "web") · web diver (Derived terms of "web") · web shell (Derived terms of "web") · Webdings (Derived terms of "web") · spider web (Derived terms of "web") · webutation (Derived terms of "web") · webpreneur (Derived terms of "web") · hyperweb (Derived terms of "web") · webcamera (Derived terms of "web") · web bug (Derived terms of "web") · break the web (Derived terms of "web") · web harvesting (Derived terms of "web") · webize (Derived terms of "web") · wood-wide web (Derived terms of "web") · webster (Derived terms of "web") · webform (Derived terms of "web") · webspace (Derived terms of "web") · webcammer (Derived terms of "web") · webisode (Derived terms of "web") · visible web (Derived terms of "web") · elseweb (Derived terms of "web") · webumentary (Derived terms of "web") · web design (Derived terms of "web") · weblink (Derived terms of "web") · webfooted (Derived terms of "web") · webmeister (Derived terms of "web") · webside manner (Derived terms of "web") · web installer (Derived terms of "web") · web hosting (Derived terms of "web") · deep-web (Derived terms of "web") · web shop (Derived terms of "web") · web beacon (Derived terms of "web") · webmaster (Derived terms of "web") · webocracy (Derived terms of "web") · web provider (Derived terms of "web") · webify (Derived terms of "web") · webslinger (Derived terms of "web") · web surfer (Derived terms of "web") · web-server (Derived terms of "web")
Hyponyms
Synonyms
way · cobweb · yarn · way · spiderweb · pin and web · intrigue · webbing · web and pin · webbing · cobweb · cobweb · spiderweb · spiderweb · spiderweb · webbing · spiderweb · spiderweb
Translations (80)
fi ristikko (a latticed or woven structure) · nb vev (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · ca ànima (interconnection between flanges) · mk мрежа (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · fi räpylä (a fold of tissue connecting the toes of certain birds) · hi जाली (a fold of tissue connecting the toes of certain birds) · be се́тка (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · vi mạng (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · es red (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · bg мре́жа (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · ko 망 (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · ru сеть (a latticed or woven structure) · hi जाल (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · fi rata (a continuous strip of material carried by rollers during processing) · es alma (interconnection between flanges) · af web (a fold of tissue connecting the toes of certain birds) · bg мре́жа (a latticed or woven structure) · fi verkosto (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · fr réseau (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · da net (a latticed or woven structure) · fr bande (a continuous strip of material carried by rollers during processing) · hi जाली (architecture) · fr bande (a long sheet of paper) · fi varsi (the thinner vertical section of a railway rail between the top and bottom of the rail) · fi raina (a long sheet of paper) · sv simhud (a fold of tissue connecting the toes of certain birds) · el ιστός (a latticed or woven structure) · gl rede (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · ga scamall (a fold of tissue connecting the toes of certain birds) · fi nauha (a continuous strip of material carried by rollers during processing) · af web (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · pl błona pławna (a fold of tissue connecting the toes of certain birds) · fr âme (the thinner vertical section of a railway rail between the top and bottom of the rail) · ru се́тка (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · ca membrana (the part of a baseball mitt between the forefinger and thumb, the webbing) · fi verkko (the part of a baseball mitt between the forefinger and thumb, the webbing) · it rete (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · de Netz (a latticed or woven structure) · fr bobine (a continuous strip of material carried by rollers during processing) · cmn 網 /网 (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · ru перепо́нка (a fold of tissue connecting the toes of certain birds) · ja 網 (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · sv väv (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · fr panier (the part of a baseball mitt between the forefinger and thumb, the webbing) · nb nett (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · da bånd (a continuous strip of material carried by rollers during processing) · uk сі́тка (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · pl sieć (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · fr poche (the part of a baseball mitt between the forefinger and thumb, the webbing) · uk мере́жа (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · fi punos (a latticed or woven structure) · yi וועב (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · el ιστός (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · es membrana (a fold of tissue connecting the toes of certain birds) · ka ქსელი (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · hi जाली (a latticed or woven structure) · af web (the part of a baseball mitt between the forefinger and thumb, the webbing) · pt palmura (a fold of tissue connecting the toes of certain birds) · fr âme (interconnection between flanges) · el δίχτυ (a latticed or woven structure) · ru сеть (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · pt rede fna (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · hi जाल (a latticed or woven structure) · bg руло́н (a long sheet of paper) · ca ànima (the thinner vertical section of a railway rail between the top and bottom of the rail) · fr palmure (a fold of tissue connecting the toes of certain birds) · el πλέγμα (a latticed or woven structure) · es alma (the thinner vertical section of a railway rail between the top and bottom of the rail) · cs síť (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · ca xarxa (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · el δίκτυο (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · ru се́тка (a latticed or woven structure) · el νηκτική μεμβράνη (a fold of tissue connecting the toes of certain birds) · da væv (a latticed or woven structure) · da svømmehud (a fold of tissue connecting the toes of certain birds) · ga fíochán (a latticed or woven structure) · sk sieť (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · da net (any interconnected set of persons, places, or things) · bg плава́телна ци́па (a fold of tissue connecting the toes of certain birds) · it vela (architecture)