butterfly

[ buht-er-flahy ]

noun

, plural but·ter·flies.

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. butterflies, (used with a plural verb) Informal. 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)

, but·ter·flied, but·ter·fly·ing.

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 lepidopteran
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 Words From

• butter·flylike adjective adverb

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

DaMart picked up a clay butterfly sculpture engraved with the 11-year-old’s name.

From Los Angeles Times

The staging of this number unfolds with butterfly subtlety on Tesshi Nakagawa’s Japanese-style set.

From Los Angeles Times

At the moment, though, it’s hard to concentrate on anything other than the giant golden butterfly fluttering around our table.

From Los Angeles Times

Another exhibit, the museum’s newest work, “Mariposa” by Oakland-based LED artist Christopher Schardt, features a massive flapping butterfly powered by a swinging bench and illuminated by more than 39,000 full-color LEDs.

From Los Angeles Times

In another photo, he uses butterfly keyrings with battery-operated lights to create an image of multiple floating butterflies.

From BBC

Related Words

• brush
• glance
• graze
• greet
• salute