The Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Main Entry: spi·der

Pronunciation: 'spI-d&r
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English spyder, alteration of spithre; akin to Old English spinnan to spin
Date: 15th century
1: any of an order (Araneae syn. Araneida) of arachnids having the abdomen usually unsegmented and constricted at the base, chelicerae modified into poison fangs, and two or more pairs of abdominal spinnerets for spinning threads of silk used in making cocoons for their eggs, nests for themselves, or webs to catch prey.

Encarta Pocket  Dictionary

Main Entry: spi·der

spider n
1. eight-legged animal that spins webs
2. frying pan
3. trivet
4. mechanical device
5. frame securing redundant ropes
6. program searching Internet for information
7. cue rest
8. Australia ice-cream soda

Other definitions: You can find more about spiders at the following link...
BUBL LINK/5:15 Internet Resources: Spiders

Also thanks to Hollywood, we do have some scary movies on spiders...
Arachnophobia, 1990