Arachne

American  

[uh-rak-nee] / əˈræk ni /

noun

Classical Mythology.

1. a Lydian woman who challenged Athena to a weaving contest and was changed into a spider for her presumption.

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Arachne British  

/ əˈræknɪ /

noun

1. Greek myth a maiden changed into a spider for having presumptuously challenged Athena to a weaving contest

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Etymology

Origin of Arachne

from Greek arakhnē spider

Example Sentences

The resulting output was then passed through Rebuilder and SquashOverlaps with parameters to merge adjacent assembled alternative haplotypes and subsequently run through another complete Arachne assembly process to finalize the assembly.

From Nature • Jun. 10, 2014

So, really, the climactic battle could only resolve with Arachne allowing Peter to be with Mary Jane, the goddess Athena transforming Arachne into a young woman again, and Arachne ascending into the stars.

From Slate • Nov. 29, 2013

The plan diminished the role of Arachne, a mythical spider woman prominent in Taymor’s vision, and hewed more closely to the plot of “Spider-Man” comic books and films.

From BusinessWeek • Jan. 18, 2012

Ms. Carpio stepped into the role in December after the original Arachne, Natalie Mendoza, quit after sustaining a concussion from being struck in the head with a rope during the first preview performance in November.

From New York Times • Oct. 28, 2011

Besides, Arachne probably had other horrible powers—a poisonous bite, or web-slinging abilities like an Ancient Greek Spider-Man.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan