butterfly

[buht-er-flahy]

noun

plural

butterflies 

1. any of numerous diurnal insects of the order Lepidoptera, characterized by clubbed antennae, a slender body, and large, broad, often conspicuously marked wings.

2. a person who flits aimlessly from one interest or group to another.

   a social butterfly.

3. (used with a plural verb),  butterflies, a queasy feeling, as from nervousness, excitement, etc.

4. a racing breaststroke, using a dolphin kick, in which the swimmer brings both arms out of the water in forward, circular motions.

5. Carpentry.,  butterfly wedge.

6. Sculpture.,  an X -shaped support attached to an armature.

7. one of the swinging brackets of a butterfly table.

8. Movies.,  a screen of scrim, gauze, or similar material, for diffusing light.

verb (used with object)

butterflied, butterflying 

1. Cooking.,  to slit open and spread apart to resemble the spread wings of a butterfly.

adjective

1. Cooking.,  split open and spread apart to resemble a butterfly.

   butterfly shrimp; butterfly steak.

butterfly

/ ˈbʌtəˌflaɪ /

noun

1. any diurnal insect of the order Lepidoptera that has a slender body with clubbed antennae and typically rests with the wings (which are often brightly coloured) closed over the back Compare moth

2. a person who never settles with one group, interest, or occupation for long

3. a swimming stroke in which the arms are plunged forward together in large circular movements

4. commerce the simultaneous purchase and sale of traded call options, at different exercise prices or with different expiry dates, on a stock exchange or commodity market

Other Word Forms

• butterflylike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of butterfly¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English boterflye, Old English buttorflēoge; equivalent to butter + fly ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of butterfly¹

Old English buttorflēoge ; the name perhaps is based on a belief that butterflies stole milk and butter

Example Sentences

The title of the book from The Beatles song, she says, "landed on my wrist like a butterfly".

From BBC

The 15-year-old, from near Market Drayton in Shropshire, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to possessing a butterfly knife, a stun gun, a baton and crossbow without supervision in November.

From BBC

"I thought the overwhelming feeling of love was a myth but when I was first dating my partner I really did get butterflies and it was just astonishing."

From BBC

In the early morning, the east-facing yard is alive with butterflies and bees, dancing over electric-purple whorls of celestial blue sage and sunny Palmer’s Indian mallow growing over the fence.

From Los Angeles Times

The butterflies came to this planet to save themselves after they’d destroyed their own, and Goff only wants to stop humanity from suffering the same fate.

From Salon

Related Words

• ant 
• aphid 
• bee 
• beetle 
• cockroach 
• dragonfly 
• flea 
• fruit fly 
• gnat 
• grasshopper 
• ladybug 
• mite 
• mosquito 
• moth 
• pest 
• spider 
• termite 
• tick