What is the scientific name for a spider?

Spiders and scorpions are both types of "arachnids." Spiders are of the class Araneae.

The class name Arachnida and order Araneae come from the Greek Word for spider (aráchnē), based on a story from ancient Greek times. Arachne was a woman who challenged the goddess Athena to a weaving competition, but lost and was cursed to live as a spider. (In another version of the story, Arachne won, and it was Athena's jealousy that provoked the curse.)