from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
orb weaver \orb" weav`er\, orb-weaver \orb"-weav`er\, 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]