a type of insect with large, often brightly coloured wings
butterflies and moths
Oxford Essential Dictionary
butterfly
noun (plural butterflies)
an insect with big coloured wings
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
butterfly
but‧ter‧fly /ˈbʌtəflaɪ $ -ər-/ BrE AmE noun (plural butterflies) [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: buterfleoge, from butere ( ⇨ ↑butter1) + fleoge 'fly'; perhaps because many types of butterfly are yellow, or because people believed that butterflies steal milk and butter]
1. a type of insect that has large wings, often with beautiful colours
2. have/get butterflies (in your stomach) informal to feel very nervous before doing something:
I always get butterflies before an exam.
3. the butterfly a way of swimming by lying on your front and moving your arms together over your head while your legs move up and down
4. someone who usually moves on quickly from one activity or person to the next:
Gwen’s a real social butterfly.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
butterfly
but·ter·fly [butterfly butterflies] [ˈbʌtəflaɪ] [ˈbʌtərflaɪ] noun
(pl. but·ter·flies)
1. countable a flying insect with a long thin body and four large, usually brightly coloured, wings
• butterflies and moths
• She's like a butterfly. She flits in and out of people's lives.
2. uncountable a swimming stroke in which you swim on your front and lift both arms forward at the same time while your legs move up and down together
• She was third in the 200m butterfly (= a swimming race).
Idiom: have butterflies
Word Origin:
Old English, from butter + the insect fly; perhaps from the cream or yellow colour of common species, or from an old belief that the insects stole butter.
Example Bank:
• The butterfly emerged from the pupa.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
butterfly / ˈbʌt.ə.flaɪ / / ˈbʌt̬.ɚ- / noun [ C ] (INSECT)
butterfly
B1 a type of insect with large, often brightly coloured wings
butterfly / ˈbʌt.ə.flaɪ / / ˈbʌt̬.ɚ- / noun [ C ] disapproving (PERSON)
a person who is not responsible or serious, and who is likely to change activities easily or only be interested in pleasure:
She's such a social butterfly.
butterfly / ˈbʌt.ə.flaɪ / / ˈbʌt̬.ɚ- / noun [ C ] (JEWELLERY)
the small metal part put on the back of a stud (= piece of jewellery worn in the ear) that keeps it in place
butterfly / ˈbʌt.ə.flaɪ / / ˈbʌt̬.ɚ- / noun [ C ] [ S or U ] (SWIMMING)
the butterfly stroke
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
butterfly
[bʌ̱tə(r)flaɪ]
butterflies
1) N-COUNT A butterfly is an insect with large colourful wings and a thin body.
2) N-UNCOUNT: also the N Butterfly is a swimming stroke which you do lying on your front, kicking your legs and bringing your arms over your head together.
3) PHRASE If you have butterflies in your stomach or have butterflies, you are very nervous or excited about something. [INFORMAL]
An exam, or even an exciting social event may produce butterflies in the stomach.
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1but·ter·fly /ˈbʌtɚˌflaɪ/ noun, pl -flies
1 [count] : a kind of insect that has a long thin body and brightly colored wings and that flies mostly during the day - see color picture
- compare moth
2 [count] often disapproving : a person who goes to many parties and other social events
• a social butterfly
3 [singular] : a way of swimming in which the swimmer's face is in the water and the arms move together in a circular motion while the legs kick up and down
• swimmers doing the butterfly also; : a race in which the swimmers do the butterfly
• They competed in the butterfly.
4 butterflies [plural] informal : a nervous feeling in your stomach
• Even experienced musicians sometimes get butterflies before a performance.
• I have butterflies in my stomach.