(n) tall thornless shrub having pale yellow flowers and flexible rushlike twigs used in basketry; of southwestern Europe and Mediterranean; naturalized in California, Syn. Spartium junceum, weaver's broom
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53 Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)
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 ]
n. 1. One who weaves, or whose occupation is to weave. “Weavers of linen.” P. Plowman. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. (Zool.) A weaver bird. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. (Zool.) An aquatic beetle of the genus Gyrinus. See Whirling. [ 1913 Webster ]
Weaver bird (Zool.), any one of numerous species of Asiatic, Fast Indian, and African birds belonging to Ploceus and allied genera of the family Ploceidae. Weaver birds resemble finches and sparrows in size, colors, and shape of the bill. They construct pensile nests composed of interlaced grass and other similar materials. In some of the species the nest is retort-shaped, with the opening at the bottom of the tube. -- Weavers' shuttle (Zool.), an East Indian marine univalve shell (Radius volva); -- so called from its shape. See Illust. of Shuttle shell, under Shuttle. [ 1913 Webster ]
[たなばた(P);しちせき(七夕), tanabata (P); shichiseki ( tanabata )] (n) (See 五節句) Festival of the Weaver (July 7th); Star Festival (one of the five annual festivals); (P)