black widow

black widow

n.

1. Any of several venomous spiders of the genus Latrodectus, the females of which have a black shiny body with red markings, often in the shape of an hourglass on the abdomen, and can inflict a dangerous bite.

2. A woman who kills her husband or lover, especially one who kills multiple husbands or lovers.

---

[From the fact that the female sometimes eats its mate.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

black widow

or

black widow spider

n

(Animals) an American spider, Latrodectus mactans, the female of which is black with red markings, highly venomous, and commonly eats its mate

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

black′ wid′ow

n.

1. a venomous black spider, Latrodectus mactans, of warm regions, including the U.S.: the female has an hourglass-shaped red mark on the underside of the abdomen.

2. any venomous spider of the cosmopolitan genus Lactrodectus.

[1910–15]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

black widow

A very poisonous spider, the female of which has a black body, typically with a red, hourglass-shaped mark on the underside. The female often eats the male after mating.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

black widow - venomous New World spider; the female is black with an hourglass-shaped red mark on the underside of the abdomen Latrodectus mactans spider - predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey genus Latrodectus, Latrodectus - venomous spiders

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Translations

black widow

n viuda negra

English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.