Webbed describes something connected by thin pieces of material stretched between parts, like the skin between a duck's toes. When you look at a duck's foot, you'll notice its toes aren't separate like yours. Instead, thin flaps of skin stretch between them, creating a paddle-like shape that helps the duck push through water efficiently.

Many water animals have webbed feet: ducks, geese, frogs, and even platypuses. The webbing works like a swimmer's flippers, giving them more surface area to push against the water with each stroke. Without their webbed feet, these animals would paddle much more slowly and tire quickly.

Spiders create webs, which are intricate nets of silk threads. While we don't usually describe spider webs as “webbed,” the connection makes sense: both involve material stretched between points to create a useful structure.