butterfly Definition
an insect with two pairs of large wings that are covered with tiny scales, usually brightly colored, and typically held erect when at rest. Butterflies fly by day, have clubbed or dilated antennae, and usually feed on nectar.
Using butterfly: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "butterfly" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The butterfly landed on the flower.
Example
Butterflies are attracted to bright colors.
Example
She collected butterflies as a hobby.
butterfly Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for butterfly
Phrases with butterfly
social butterfly
a person who is very sociable and enjoys attending parties and other social events.
Example
She's a real social butterfly, always going out and meeting new people.
the phenomenon whereby a small change at one place in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere, e.g., a butterfly flapping its wings in Rio de Janeiro might change the weather in Chicago.
Example
The butterfly effect is a concept in chaos theory.
a swimming stroke in which the arms are extended forward and pulled back through the water alternately while the legs are spread apart and then brought together.
Example
She swam the butterfly stroke in the race.
Summary: butterfly in Brief
A 'butterfly' [ˈbʌtəflaɪ] is an insect with two pairs of large, colorful wings covered in tiny scales. They fly during the day, feed on nectar, and have clubbed or dilated antennae. The term extends to phrases like 'social butterfly,' referring to a sociable person, and 'butterfly effect,' describing the phenomenon of small changes having large effects. 'Butterfly stroke' is a swimming technique where the arms are extended forward and pulled back through the water alternately while the legs are spread apart and then brought together.
