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 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 Wu gok appear otherworldly, the result of the taro and wheat dough creating a cobweb-like structure when it’s fried. Jenn Harriscolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2022 Other people would send in their pictures of animals, food, art, flowers — anything that one considers beautiful to share with the world, including sunrises and a seed in a cobweb in Holland. Darcel Rockett, chicagotribune.com, 5 Aug. 2020 Each week, grow rooms, like the one pictured here, produce up to 4,400 pounds of mushrooms and mycelia, the cobweb-like membrane from which mushrooms sprout. Discover Magazine, 31 May 2013 Alex even put on a dress, short and black, held up by cobweb straps, identical in all but color to Mercy's and Lauren's. Nick Romano, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2022 Under pressure by dwindling international reserves, Argentina has been implementing a cobweb of currency controls and different exchange rates under the government of President Alberto Fernandez, who took power in late 2019. Patrick Gillespie, Bloomberg.com, 21 Oct. 2022 Inside the house, cobweb-like decor hangs from the ceiling and walls. Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 26 Oct. 2022 This method is particularly suited to smaller jobs, like removing a cobweb, but it can also be used for all-over cleaning. Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Oct. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cobweb.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 29 Mar. 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

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