arachnoid Hear it!

arachnoid definition

arach·noid (-no̵id′)

adjective

  1. Anat. designating the middle of three membranes covering the brain and the spinal cord
  2. Bot. covered with or consisting of soft, fine hairs or fibers
  3. Zool. of or like an arachnid

Etymology: ModL arachnoides < Gr arachnoeidēs, like a cobweb < arachnē, spider (see arachnid) + -eidēs, -oid

noun

  1. Anat. the arachnoid membrane
  2. Zool. an arachnid

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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