Butterfly \But"ter*fly`\, n.; pl. Butterflies. [Perh. from the
color of a yellow species. AS. buter-fl[=e]ge,
buttor-fle['o]ge; cf. G. butterfliege, D. botervlieg. See
Butter, and Fly.] (Zool.)
A general name for the numerous species of diurnal
Lepidoptera.
Note: [See Illust. under Aphrodite.]
[1913 Webster]
Asclepias butterfly. See under Asclepias.
Butterfly fish (Zool.), the ocellated blenny ({Blennius
ocellaris) of Europe. See Blenny. The term is also
applied to the flying gurnard.
Butterfly shell (Zool.), a shell of the genus Voluta.
Butterfly valve (Mech.), a kind of double clack valve,
consisting of two semicircular clappers or wings hinged to
a cross rib in the pump bucket. When open it somewhat
resembles a butterfly in shape.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
butterfly
n 1: diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed
antennae and broad colorful wings
2: a swimming stroke in which the arms are thrown forward
together out of the water while the feet kick up and down
[syn: butterfly stroke]
v 1: flutter like a butterfly
2: cut and spread open, as in preparation for cooking;
"butterflied shrimp"
3: talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions; "The
guys always try to chat up the new secretaries"; "My
husband never flirts with other women" [syn: chat up, flirt,
dally, coquet, coquette, romance, philander, mash]
WordNet (r) 2.0
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