web

1 of 2

noun

ˈweb 

1

: a fabric on a loom or in process of being removed from a loom

2

a

: cobweb, spiderweb

b

: a network of silken thread spun especially by the larvae of various insects (such as a tent caterpillar) and usually serving as a nest or shelter

3

: a tissue or membrane of an animal or plant

especially : that uniting fingers or toes either at their bases (as in humans) or for a greater part of their length (as in many waterbirds)

4

a

: a thin metal sheet, plate, or strip

b

: the plate connecting the upper and lower flanges of a girder or rail

c

: the arm of a crank

5

: something resembling a web:

a

: snare, entanglement

a web of intrigue

ensnarled in a web of folly

—D. A. Stockman

b

: an intricate pattern or structure suggestive of something woven : network

6

: the series of barbs on each side of the shaft of a feather : vane

7

a

: a continuous sheet of paper manufactured or undergoing manufacture on a paper machine

b

: a roll of paper for use in a rotary printing press

8

: the part of a ribbed vault between the ribs

9

or Web : world wide web

webbed

ˈwebd 

adjective

weblike

ˈweb-ˌlīk 

adjective

web

2 of 2

verb

webbed; webbing

intransitive verb

: to construct or form a web

transitive verb

1

: to cover with a web or network

2

: ensnare, entangle

3

: to provide with a web

Synonyms

Noun

• entanglement
• mesh(es)
• morass
• net
• noose
• quagmire
• quicksand
• snare
• tanglement
• toil(s)
• trap

Examples of web in a Sentence

Noun

I spent the afternoon surfing the Web.

The spider was spinning its web.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Today's enterprise technology stack is, by design, a complex web of AI models, APIs and microservices. —Rajat Bhargava, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Facebook photos show Reeves surrounded by family in hospital A family member of Reeves posted multiple photos on Facebook showing the teenager lying in a hospital bed surrounded by a web of cords attached to medical equipment along with what appeared to be a breathing tube hooked up to his mouth. —Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic, 20 Nov. 2024

Verb

My only other gripe about this pack is the top handle, which is a single thin piece of webbing that also isn't up to the standards of the rest of the pack. —Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 27 June 2024

There's also a variety of webbing and loops around the pack—three loops on the bottom and some webbing with shock cording just above the four outside pockets. —Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 27 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old Norse vefr web, Old English wefan to weave

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1604, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing web

• dark web
• deep web
• food web
• orb web
• spider's web
• web belt
• web crawler
• web member
• web-offset
• web page
• web press
• web site
• web spinner

Kids Definition

web

1 of 2 noun

ˈweb 

1

: a fabric on a loom or in the process of being removed from a loom

2

a

: cobweb sense 1b, spiderweb

b

: a network of threads spun especially by the larvae of various insects (as tent caterpillars) and usually serving as a nest or shelter

c

: something that catches and holds one

spies caught in a web of plots

3

: a membrane of an animal or plant

especially : one uniting toes (as of many waterbirds)

4

: network sense 2

5

capitalized : world wide web

web

2 of 2 verb

webbed; webbing

1

: to make or form a web

2

: to cover or provide with webs or a web

Medical Definition

web

noun

ˈweb 

: a tissue or membrane of an animal or plant

especially : that uniting fingers or toes either at their bases (as in humans) or for a greater part of their length (as in many waterbirds)

webbed

ˈwebd 

adjective