cobweb

noun

cob·​web ˈkäb-ˌweb How to pronounce cobweb (audio)
1
a
: the network spread by a spider : spiderweb
b
: tangles of the silken threads of a spiderweb usually covered with accumulated dirt and dust
2
: something that entangles, obscures, or confuses
a cobweb of law and politics
cobwebbed adjective

Examples of cobweb in a Sentence

Dirt and cobwebs filled the corners of the room. The barn is filled with cobwebs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Your higher power can be an elephant or a cobweb in a corner. Calvin Tomkins, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024 But when strung together in a cobweb of obfuscation, the result is bewilderment, not communication; suspicion, not trust. Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 Also featured in the post is a photo of a decorative cobweb and spider. Kaitlyn Schwanemann, NBC News, 1 Nov. 2024 The only snow that stuck on my property was on a cobweb, but the spider probably considers that his property. A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2023 See all Example Sentences for cobweb 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English coppeweb, from coppe spider (from Old English ātorcoppe) + web; akin to Middle Dutch coppe spider

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cobweb was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near cobweb

Cite this Entry

“Cobweb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cobweb. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

cobweb

noun
cob·​web ˈkäb-ˌweb How to pronounce cobweb (audio)
1
2
: tangles of the silken threads of a spiderweb usually covered with dirt and dust
cobwebbed adjective
cobwebby
-ˌweb-ē
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on cobweb

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!