spider

Everyday

1. A spider is a small animal with 8 legs that spins webs of silk to catch insects. tree →
2. Spiders are not insects; they belong to a group called arachnids. tree →
3. Most spiders are harmless to people, but a few, like some in Australia, have a dangerous bite. tree →

In the lessons

In school maths: a counted animal with 8 legs, used in legs puzzles (spiders and beetles). In science: arachnids have 8 legs and 2 body parts; insects have 6 legs and 3 body parts; webs, predators and prey. In stories: «Charlotte's Web», «Incy Wincy Spider» (Itsy Bitsy Spider). Phrases: «spider's web», «spin a web».

Examples

• A spider has 8 legs. tree →
• How many legs do 5 spiders have? tree →
• There are spiders and beetles with 70 legs. tree →
• She saw 3 spiders in the web. tree →
• A spider is not an insect because it has 8 legs. tree →
• The spider spun a web between two branches. tree →
• Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the water spout. tree →
• In Australia, do not touch a redback spider. tree →
• "Good father Spider! please not to kill me. tree →

Note

Countable: «a spider». A spider web or «spider's web». Maths: hides «8 legs each». Trap: a spider is not an insect; it has 8 legs, not 6. Safety: do not pick up spiders you do not know.

In Jewish tradition

In the Bible the spider's web is a picture of something weak and easily broken, though one proverb praises the spider for getting into palaces.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the web as a warning that trust in anything but God is flimsy, while the proverb is read as showing that small, patient creatures can reach great places.

Examples

• Whose confidence is gossamer, and whose trust is a spider's web. (Writings JOB.8.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• The spider thou canst take with the hands, yet is she in kings' palaces. (Writings PRO.30.28, JPS 1917) tree →
• They hatch basilisks' eggs, and weave the spider's web; he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. (Prophets ISA.59.5, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: «a spider». A spider web or «spider's web». Maths: hides «8 legs each». Trap: a spider is not an insect; it has 8 legs, not 6. Safety: do not pick up spiders you do not know.