Word Study
orb-weaver
CIDE DICTIONARY
orb-weaver, n.
Any spider of the family Araneidae (called also Argiopidae ) that spins a web with a pattern of lines spiraling outward from the center. They have eight similar eyes. The golden orb weaver, Mephila clavipes , is known for the remarkable dragline silk it produces for use as a frame for its web and as a line on which it can plummet down and nab prey. This silk has a high tensile strength and is stronger than the toughest current synthetic polymer (Kevlar). [PJC]
For further exploring for "orb-weaver" in Webster Dictionary Online