web
gb/wˈɛb/ us/wˈɛb/
A1
English
~ 100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
The World Wide Web
The part of the internet where you can see websites and pages.
Usage pattern:
browse [the web]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'web' with 'internet'. The internet is the whole network; the web is one part of it.
Synonyms
internet (Often used interchangeably, but 'internet' refers to the entire network, while 'web' is a part of it.)
Collocations
surf the web
|browse the web
|web browser
|web page
|web address
Themes
technology
|communication
Examples
- I spent the afternoon browsing the web for travel deals.
- The company launched a new product on the web.
- She found the recipe on a cooking web page.
- Many businesses have moved their services to the web.
Learner examples
- I like to read news on the web.
- You can find many pictures on the web.
- My father uses the web to shop online.
Noun
A1
entity
2
A spider's silk trap
Thin threads made by a spider to catch bugs.
Usage pattern:
a spider's web
Synonyms
cobweb (Typically refers to an old or dusty spider web indoors.)
Collocations
spin a web
|cobwebs and webs
|tangled in a web
Themes
nature
|animals
Examples
- The spider spun a large web between two trees.
- Morning dew covered the spider's web with tiny droplets.
- A fly got stuck in the sticky web.
Learner examples
- The spider makes a web.
- I see a web in the corner.
- The fly is in the web.
Noun
B2
entity
3
A complicated system of connections
A network or system with many parts that are connected in a complicated way.
Usage pattern:
a web of [something]
Synonyms
network (More neutral and less metaphorical than 'web'.)
Collocations
a web of lies
|a tangled web
|caught in a web
Themes
metaphor
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The investigation uncovered a web of corruption in the city council.
- She was caught in a web of lies.
- The novel explores the web of relationships in a small town.
Learner examples
- He told a web of lies.
- The story has a web of characters.
- She was caught in a web of problems.
Grammar
Dictionary form
web
IPA
GB/wˈɛb/
US/wˈɛb/
Syllables & stress
web (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (web)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: web
- Plural: webs
Word family
Expressions
a tangled web
1/ə tˈæŋɡəld wˈɛb/
idiom
A complicated, tricky situation
A very complex and confusing situation, often with lies or secrets.
Examples
- He created a tangled web of deceit that was hard to escape.
- The movie tells the story of a tangled web of family drama.
a tangled web
1/ə tˈæŋɡəld wˈɛb/
idiom
complex situation, often from lies
A complicated situation with many connected problems, often caused by lying.
Examples
- The journalist uncovered a tangled web of lies behind the scandal.
- By the end of the series, the characters were caught in a tangled web of secrets.
- One small lie can grow into a tangled web that’s hard to escape.
caught in a web
1/kˈɔt ˈɪn ə wˈɛb/
idiom
Trapped in a complex problem
To be stuck in a difficult situation that is hard to get out of.
Examples
- She felt caught in a web of office politics.
- He was caught in a web of legal troubles.
surf the web
1/sˈɚf ðə wˈɛb/
idiom
Browse sites on the internet
To look at different websites on the internet for fun or information.
Examples
- I like to surf the web in the evenings.
- She spent hours surfing the web for holiday ideas.
surf the web
1/sˈɚf ðə wˈɛb/
idiom
informal
browse the internet casually
To look at many websites on the internet.
Examples
- She surfs the web to find new recipes.
- We were just surfing the web when we found the video.