Definition

1. Noun (plural, treated as singular or plural):
   • Araneida: A taxonomic group comprising spiders. This term refers to the order of arachnids that are air-breathing arthropods with eight legs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. It is synonymous with the order Araneae.

Usage Notes

• "Araneida" is a scientific, taxonomic term used primarily in zoological and biological contexts. It is not commonly used in everyday language, where the word "spiders" is preferred.
• The word functions as a plural noun but can be used with a singular verb when referring to the order as a single taxonomic unit (e.g., "Araneida is an order...").

Examples

• Scientific Context:
  • The order Araneida includes over 48,000 described species.
  • Researchers studied the web-spinning behavior within Araneida.

Advanced Usage

• In Taxonomic Hierarchy: The term is used to classify organisms. Example: "The class Arachnida contains several orders, including Scorpiones, Acari, and Araneida."
• Comparative Biology: Used in studies comparing traits across different arachnid orders. Example: "Venom composition differs significantly between Araneida and Opiliones."

Variants and Related Words

• Araneae (n.): The more modern and currently preferred synonym for the same order of spiders. Example: "The phylogeny of Araneae is complex."
• Arachnid (n.): The broader class to which Araneida belongs, which also includes scorpions, mites, and ticks.
• Araneologist (n.): A scientist who studies spiders.

Synonyms

• Spiders: The common English word for members of the order Araneida.
• Araneae: The alternative scientific name for the same order.

Notes on Meaning

• The term "Araneida" refers specifically to the entire biological order. It does not refer to a single spider, a specific family, or the silk they produce. It is a collective taxonomic label.

Noun

1. spiders