water spider

noun

1
a
or water spinner : an aquatic European spider (Argyoneta aquatica) that constructs beneath the surface of the water a bell-shaped structure of silk which is open beneath and filled with air carried down by the spider in the form of small bubbles
b
: any of various spiders that habitually live on or about the water
especially : a large American spider (Dolomedes sexpunctatus) that runs rapidly on the surface of water
2

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Cite this Entry

“Water spider.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20spider. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

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