Arachne

[ uh-rak-nee ]

/ əˈræk ni /

noun Classical Mythology.

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for arachne

Now all that was downright selfish; it reminds one of a story—a sort of fairy-tale—about Minerva and Arachne.
Story Lessons of Character Building (Morals) and Manners|Los Bates
Some of these names are difficult to explain,—especially the last, which reminds us of the Greek legend of Arachne.
The Romance of the Milky Way|Lafcadio Hearn
The goddess, relenting, changed Arachne into a spider, and she continues her weaving to this day.
The Spell of Belgium|Isabel Anderson
Arachne was a young girl who was famous for her skill in embroidery and weaving.
'Round the Year in Myth and Song|Florence Holbrook

The nymphs shivered at this, and an aged woman, who was looking on, turned to Arachne.
Old Greek Folk Stories Told Anew|Josephine Preston Peabody

British Dictionary definitions for arachne

Arachne

/ (əˈræknɪ) /

noun

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

Word Origin for Arachne

from Greek arakhnē spider

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012