harvestman

/'hɑ:vistmæn/

Thân thiện

A harvestman clings to the side of a large, smooth stone.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of arachnid: A harvestman is an arachnid that resembles a spider but has a small, rounded, single-segmented body and extremely long, thin legs. It is not a true spider as it lacks venom and silk glands.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • I saw a harvestman crawling on the garden wall.
  • Harvestmen are often found in damp, dark places like caves or under logs.

Advanced Usage

• Ecological Role: Harvestmen are important as scavengers in the ecosystem, helping to decompose dead plant and animal matter.
  • The harvestman plays a crucial role in nutrient cycling by consuming detritus.

Variants and Related Words

• Daddy-longlegs (n): A common informal name for the harvestman in some regions. (Note: This name is also used for crane flies and cellar spiders in other areas, which can cause confusion.)
  • Children often call harvestmen "daddy-longlegs."
• Opiliones (n): The scientific order to which harvestmen belong.
  • The order Opiliones contains over 6,500 species of harvestmen.

Synonyms

• Opilionid: A technical synonym for a harvestman.
• Harvester (archaic/regional): An older or less common term.

Related Phrases

• Harvestman season: An informal phrase referring to the time of year (often late summer or autumn) when these arachnids are most commonly seen.
  • It must be harvestman season; they're everywhere in the shed.

Học thuật

Noun

1. spiderlike arachnid with a small rounded body and very long thin legs

Từ đồng nghĩa

• daddy longlegs
• Phalangium opilio