butterfly en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Received-Pronunciation) audio
- [ˈbʌ.ɾɚ.flaɪ] (Canada, US)
- /ˈbʌ.tə(ɹ).flaɪ/
- (Canada) audio
- (Australia) audio
- [ˈbʌ.tə.flaɪ] (UK)
- [ˈbʌ.ɾə.flɑɪ] (Australia)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʷṓws Proto-Hellenic *gʷous Ancient Greek βοῦς (boûs) Proto-Indo-European *tewh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-rós Proto-Indo-European *tuh₂rós Proto-Hellenic *tūrós Ancient Greek τυρός (turós) Ancient Greek βούτῡρον (boútūron)bor. Latin būtȳrumbor. Proto-West Germanic *buterā Old English butere Proto-Indo-European *plew- Proto-Indo-European *plewk- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *pléwketi Proto-Germanic *fleuganądeverb. Proto-Germanic *fleugǭ Proto-West Germanic *fleugā Old English flēoge Old English buterflēoge Middle English boterflye English butterfly From Middle English buterflie, butturflye, boterflye, from Old English buterflēoge, equivalent to butter + fly. Cognate with Dutch botervlieg, German Butterfliege (“butterfly”). The name may have originally been applied to butterflies of a yellowish color, or reflected a belief that butterflies ate milk and butter (compare German Molkendieb (“butterfly”, literally “whey-thief”) and Low German Botterlicker (“butterfly”, literally “butter-licker”)), or that they excreted a butter-like substance (compare Dutch boterschijte (“butterfly”, literally “butter-excretor”)). Compare also German Schmetterling from Schmetten (“cream”), German Low German Bottervögel (“butterfly”, literally “butter-fowl”). More at butter, fly. An alternate theory suggests that the first element may have originally been Old English butor- (“beater”), a mutation of bēatan (“to beat”), but this would not explain the cognates in other languages or the other names formed with milk products. Superseded non-native Middle English papilion (“butterfly”) borrowed from Old French papillon (“butterfly”). Contrary to popularised belief, the form "butterfly" was not derived from an earlier flutterby.
Meanings
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A flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, distinguished from moths by their diurnal activity and generally brighter colouring.
Dr Andre Gilburn, of the University of Stirling, who led the butterfly study, said: “Our study not only identifies a worrying link between the use of neonicotinoids and declines in butterflies but also suggests that the strength of their impact on many species could be huge.”
2015 November 24, Patrick Barkham, “Pesticide may be reason butterfly numbers are falling in UK, says study”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 05 Mar 2016:It is true. I am like a butterfly, and I shall only live a little while.
a. 1931 (date written), D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, “[Personalia and Fragments.] [Autobiographical Fragment].”, in Edward D[avid] McDonald, editor, Phoenix: The Posthumous Papers of D. H. Lawrence, London: William Heinemann, published 1936, →OCLC, page 836:
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(broadly) A flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, distinguished from moths by their diurnal activity and generally brighter colouring. ▸ The imago (final form) of such an insect, consisting usually of a long body with large flat wings, as opposed to earlier instars such as caterpillar or pupa.
Then he nibbled a hole in the cocoon, pushed his way out and he was a beautiful butterfly!
1969, Eric Carle, The Very Hungry Caterpillar:
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(attributive) A use of surgical tape, cut into thin strips and placed across an open wound to hold it closed.
butterfly tape; butterfly bandage; butterfly strips
- The butterfly stroke.
- Any of several plane curves that look like a butterfly; see Butterfly curve (transcendental) and Butterfly curve (algebraic).
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(abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, in-plural) Ellipsis of butterflies in one’s stomach (“A sensation of excited anxiety felt in the stomach”).
alt of butterflies in one’s stomach
I get terrible butterflies before an exam.
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(archaic) Someone seen as being unserious and (originally) dressed gaudily; someone flighty and unreliable.
He was affable; therefore he was frivolous. The women liked him; therefore he was a butterfly.
1859, George Meredith, chapter 15, in The Ordeal of Richard Feverel. A History of Father and Son. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC:The day came indeed when her breathless auditors learnt from her in bewilderment that what ailed him was that he was, alas, simply not serious. Maisie wept on Mrs. Wix's bosom after hearing that Sir Claude was a butterfly[…].
1897, Henry James, What Maisie Knew:
- A combination of four options of the same type at three strike prices giving limited profit and limited risk.
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(qualifier:alternate history) A random change in an aspect of the timeline seemingly unrelated to the primary point of divergence, resulting from the butterfly effect.
One potential butterfly could be JFK having another son the year after the POD instead of a daughter.
- A type of stretch in which one sits on the ground with the legs folded into a shape like that of a butterfly's wings, slightly rocking them up and down, resembling the wings fluttering.
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A person who changes partners frequently.
What does it mean to be a butterfly in Pattaya? It means, just like a butterfly briefly visits many flowers, you will briefly visit many different girls.
2022 December 9, Darren C, “Paying For Bar Girls, Sex in Pattaya”, in Pattaya Unlimited:
- A safety link or detaching hook above the cage attached to the winding rope to prevent the cage from being overwound.
- (Philippine, Philippines, derogatory, often) party switcher; turncoat.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| butterflies | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
butterfly blenny · butterfly keyboard · sulfur butterfly · nettle tree butterfly · butterfly bush · butterfly tulip · butterfly stroke · butterfly position · butterfly mussel · butterfly dam · semicolon butterfly · zebra butterfly · butterfly banners · butterfly kiss · Diana butterfly · butterfly stitch · milkweed butterfly · snout butterfly · butterfly milkweed · butterfly weed · rainbows and butterflies · butterfly plant · California dogface butterfly · butterfly flower · butterfly cake · harvester butterfly · butterfly door · break a butterfly upon a wheel · thistle butterfly · butterfly lily · alfalfa butterfly · butterfly nut · butterfly loop · peacock butterfly · butterfly hinge · butterfly kick · butterfly valve · butterfly app · butterfly mine · butterfly damper · butterfly sleeve · butterfly knot · butterfly syringe · map butterfly · gossamer-winged butterfly · butterfly table · butterfly net · butterfly clip · butterfly knife · butterfly bend · bird-winged butterfly · butterfly orchid · owl butterfly · break a butterfly on a wheel · butterfly chair · butterfly bomb · butterfly child · moth butterfly · butterfly skin · butterfly effect · butterfly agave · butterfly shell · Kamehameha butterfly · cabbage butterfly · comma butterfly · lime butterfly · spinal butterfly ray · butterfly clam · sulphur butterfly · Hofstadter's butterfly · Ursula butterfly · butterfly bat · butterfly pea · butterfly collector · iron butterfly · monarch butterfly · break a butterfly upon the wheel · brush-footed butterfly · break a butterfly on the wheel · butterflies in one's stomach · social butterfly · butterfly window · apefly · butterflier · butterfly ballot · float like a butterfly · Troilus butterfly · butterfly watching · butterfly upon a wheel · butterfly crab · butterfly connector · butterfly ginger · emperor butterfly · butterfly adder · sea butterfly · butterfly grip · butterfly cod · butterfly roof · paper kite butterfly · alpine butterfly knot · butterfly ray · alpine butterfly bend · butterfly fish · butterflylike · butterfly screw · butterflyfish · butterfly needle · butterfly-knotted
Descendants
bataflae · bataplai · bataflae · баттерфля́й
Hypernyms
pollinator (flying insect) · lep (flying insect) · lepidopteran (flying insect)
Synonyms
changeling · butterfly · transfuge · traitor · turncoat · apostate · balimbing · balimbing · turncloak · withersake · defector · turntippet · runagate
Translations (720)
da sommerflue (insect) · ccc kamajto (insect) · shh a'ipputoonkih (insect) · sne karimunuo (insect) · moh tsiktsinēnsawen (insect) · fi perhosia vatsassa (sensation) · gv foillycan (insect) · ro fluture (insect) · cjy 蝴蝶 (insect) · gl volalla (insect) · mhr лыве (insect) · gl bolboreta (insect) · rcf papiyon (insect) · de Falter (insect) · udm бубыли (insect) · cts karibangbang (insect) · cku hacokpalpa (insect) · nl vijfwouter (insect) · nhi papalotl (insect) · cho hʋtapushik (insect) · nn fivreld (insect) · evn лэрэдэ (insect) · liv liepālinki (insect) · esu caqelngataq (insect) · chp yágoli (insect) · hid abóoga (insect) · otn tømø (insect) · nhw papalotl (insect) · wyb pilyu-pilyuka (insect) · dif karlipilhi (insect) · jv kupu (insect) · nb fivreld (insect) · goh fīfaltara (insect) · iso ẹzi (insect) · gld чакини (insect) · ast pumarina (insect) · mrw paroparo (insect) · pon lipahrourou (insect) · ky көпөлөк (insect) · lez чепелукь (insect) · sah үрүмэччи (insect) · moe kuakuapishish (insect) · bo ཕྱེ་ལེབ (insect) · ms kulimambang (insect) · nb fryvil (insect) · zku pilyapilya (insect) · fo firvaldur (insect) · lld pavël (insect) · ne पुतली (insect) · sv dagfjäril (insect) · bn প্রজাপতি (insect) · vep lipkaine (insect) · dak kimimina (insect) · nnt aumawncohunt (insect) · gmq-gut fjädaralld (insect) · ff pucharlar (insect) · se beaiveloddi (insect) · kim һебеген (insect) · xmt bimbompu (insect) · uum гӱбелек (insect) · fj bebe (insect) · war rapudapo (insect) · oj memengwaa (insect) · ckb پەپوولە (insect) · izh unilintu (insect) · sah лыах (insect) · wao c'ilakʰápe (insect) · ban kupu-kupu (insect) · gug panambi (insect) · pt borboleta (insect) · uk мете́лик (insect) · gl andola (insect) · pam talúbang (insect) · gl volvoreta (insect) · kaa gu‘belek (insect) · tet kopukopu (insect) · uum гӧбелек (insect) · bm dimago (insect) · he פַּרְפַּר (insect) · su kukupu (insect) · urb iyenye (insect) · liv liepālind (insect) · lut yuʔyuʔbəč (insect) · rw ikinyugunyugu class 7/8 (insect) · ja 蝶 (insect) · vi bươm bướm (insect) · mrn naʼalo (insect) · clt cuobalilipa (insect) · scn parpagghiuni (insect) · bdr kelebambang (insect) · zpl biti (insect) · cv лӗпӗш (insect) · ig olookolombooka (insect) · ln mpornboli (insect) · an pamparola (insect) · nap palomma (insect) · ar فراشة (insect) · chk nipwisipwis (insect) · szl szmaterlŏk (insect) · liv liblabbiņ (insect) · pt panapaná (insect) · az kəpənək (insect) · uum гомалака (insect) · wyi balam-balam (insect) · ru мотылёк (insect) · nl zomervogel (insect) · am ቢራቢሮ (insect) · ba күбәләк (insect) · kqe karibangbang (insect) · kne bibil-o (insect) · sw kipepeo (insect) · cdo 蝴蝶 (insect) · si සමනලයා (insect) · hu lepke (insect) · lb Pimpampel (insect) · nhk me̱me (insect) · zza pılpılık (insect) · ar فراش (insect) · zh 蝶仔 (insect) · ja チョウ (insect) · zh 蝴蝶 (insect) · ko 나비 (insect) · mvi チョーチョー (insect) · hei hḷúlu (insect) · dwu buurnba (insect) · kj onanga (insect) · bdy banjalahm (insect) · xal эрвәкә (insect) · gl avelaíña (insect) · kmr pirpirok (insect) · ovd fyörolder (insect) · gmq-scy sømmarfuğl (insect) · gmq-gut fjädurhalldi (insect) · jje 나비 (insect) · fy flinter (insect) · xda burrudir (insect) · kw tykki Duw (insect) · fon afúntúnkpεkpε (insect) · ivb kodibabang (insect) · wa påwion (insect) · lv taurenis (insect) · atj kwakwapicic (insect) · ty pūrehua (insect) · yaq baiseeboli (insect) · mek pepeo (insect) · yi פּיאַטלינקע (insect) · pon lipahreureu (insect) · ca palometa (insect) · tji taxsix (insect) · mwl paixarina (insect) · ca papallona (insect) · arn jampvzkeñ (insect) · gu પતંગિયું (insect) · ami 'adipangpang (insect) · tsg kabakaba (insect) · ff bidilallah (insect) · lua bulubulu (insect) · tzm ⵉⴱⵍⵉⵍⵍⵉ (insect) · arp nihˀoːteibeihiː (insect) · eu txipirrita (insect) · uum гӧмелек (insect) · fi perhosen siivenisku (random change working through butterfly effect) · ksw စီးကပ့ၤ (insect) · nl botervlieg (insect) · de Summervogel (insect) · str sk̕ʷəw̕lex̣əʔ (insect) · nn sommarfugl (insect) · yua péepen (insect) · cuc a¹seg⁴ (insect) · nrf papillote (insect) · yi פֿלאַטערל (insect) · fi perhonen (insect) · te సీతాకోక చిలుక (insect) · et liblikas (insect) · nay lompalampi (insect) · eu pinpilinpauxa (insect) · pap barbulèt (insect) · ngu papalotl (insect) · tli ḵaa daa l'eix̱í (insect) · atv кӧбӧлек (insect) · sh lȅptīr (insect) · duo lollo (insect) · shh a'yapodoongi (insect) · mek fefe (insect) · tpn panama (insect) · xug タベールー (insect) · lo ແມງກະເບື້ອ (insect) · so babbisjinni (insect) · ood hohokimal (insect) · ar طرفشانة (insect) · ttt пелпелек (insect) · fo fiðrildi (insect) · st sororomele (insect) · duo lelle (insect) · fla kʷelùlegu (insect) · nds Bottervögel (insect) · fi elostelija (person who changes partners frequently) · zpv bidxiidxi (insect) · nzd ipááfǔl (insect) · vo pab (insect) · el πεταλούδα (insect) · bo ཅེམ་ཅེམ་མ (insect) · mg lolo (insect) · udi phephalak (insect) · vro tsibiläne (insect) · nl boterschijte (insect) · udi pepalak (insect) · fo summarfuglur (insect) · ru моты́ль (insect) · zh 尾蝶仔 (insect) · nb sommerfugl (insect) · tiy kélibangbang (insect) · hi तितली (insect) · dv ކޮކާ (insect) · njm zopruo (insect) · zh 蝴蝶 (insect) · bo ཕྱེ་མ་ལེབ (insect) · kl pakkaluaq (insect) · sh ле̏птӣр (insect) · ka პეპელა (insect) · sc mariavolavola (insect) · kea gorgoleta (insect) · pwn kalidrungudrungulj (insect) · pl motyl (insect) · os гӕлӕбу (insect) · hak 揚蝶仔 /扬蝶仔 (insect) · gmq-gut fjädavall (insect) · luy likuyukuyu (insect) · io papiliono (insect) · liv libālabā (insect) · ams ハブぃラ (insect) · af skoenlapper (insect) · lt drugelis (insect) · yue 蝴蝶 (insect) · kk көбелек (insect) · meu kau-bebe (insect) · srm adömítö (insect) · srn kapelka (insect) · ang fīfalde (insect) · nci papalotl (insect) · dtp kolibambang (insect) · mns-nor ла̄панты (insect) · ta பட்டாம்பூச்சி (sensation) · goh fīfaltra (insect) · ee dyekpakpa (insect) · wym mulkiadrymuł (insect) · kdr kebalak (insect) · sco butterflee (insect) · tg шапалак (insect) · mwf manman (insect) · ta பாப்பாத்தி (insect) · paw awiitakaaruʼ (insect) · xh ibhabhathane (insect) · msb kulibangbang (insect) · xdk burudyara (insect) · gd teillean-dè (insect) · kbd хьэндырабгъуэ (insect) · tg шабпара (insect) · km មេអំបៅ (insect) · vi bướm (insect) · mn эрвээхэй (insect) · kxd kulimambang (insect) · or ପ୍ରଜାପତି (insect) · hup kidiwisčeˀ (insect) · tli tleilóo (insect) · tew púwáníní (insect) · kzj kohibambang (insect) · rup flituru (insect) · svs bebeula (insect) · ff lilldeh (insect) · nd ivevane (insect) · mtq bươm bưởm (insect) · xsr བ་ལིབ (insect) · it farfalla (insect) · tpi bembe (insect) · anq peʈpel (insect) · ar فَراشة (insect) · urh erhi (insect) · de Tagfalter (insect) · ast mariposa (insect) · hop masivie (insect) · be маты́ль (insect) · fa شَوْپَرَک (insect) · mi pēpepe (insect) · ik taqalukisaq (insect) · knb kullapoy (insect) · kyh xatimniim (insect) · mi pūrerehua (insect) · za mbaj (insect) · mfe papiyon (insect) · chr ᎧᎹᎹ (insect) · lmw wolóolok (insect) · tnq tanama (insect) · ebk fob-ollo (insect) · luo oguyo (insect) · bg пеперу́да (insect) · mt farfett (insect) · grk-ita ajarài (insect) · fi perhoslaastari (butterfly tape) · crs papiyon (insect) · it farfallone (person who changes partners frequently) · nso serurubele (insect) · grc ψυχή (insect) · hsn 蝴蝶 (insect) · ca papaió (insect) · mic mimiges (insect) · ss luvivane class 11/10 (insect) · ilb sikapempenya (insect) · tzo pepen (insect) · ia papilion (insect) · ppl papalut (insect) · wrh buuja-buuja (insect) · itl вэвэчӽ (insect) · rsk мотиль (insect) · crx tsangwelht'ah (insect) · xcl թիթեռն (insect) · hil alibangbang (insect) · inh кӏормац (insect) · ff palapala (insect) · eu tximeleta (insect) · fi perhoskäyrä (plane curve that looks like a butterfly) · ar فَرَاشَة (insect) · ps پتنګ (insect) · ca paloma (insect) · ain マレゥレゥ (insect) · ps پروانه (insect) · ab ахьчҧаҧыр (insect) · sus chuani (insect) · eu pinpirin (insect) · ko 호접 (insect) · mam paki'l (insect) · kab imecbiber (insect) · fur pavee (insect) · an bombolón (insect) · sa शलभ (insect) · yo labalábá (insect) · st serurubele (insect) · cup malvel (insect) · el ψυχή (insect) · fr papillon (insect) · kqr kolibambang (insect) · zh хўте (insect) · fi perhosvenytys (sports: type of stretch) · pa ਤਿਤਲੀ (insect) · uum кӱбелек (insect) · leh limpempele (insect) · yag yamostálla (insect) · my လိပ်ပြာ (insect) · caa pehpem (insect) · ff bedelallah (insect) · nay ngartari (insect) · ami adipangpang (insect) · pua parakata (insect) · bm npɛrɛnpɛrɛ (insect) · nys ban-ban (insect) · gld кокони (insect) · arq بابيو (insect) · de Schmetterling (insect) · msk karibangbang (insect) · tl mariposa (insect) · kam kimbalut'ya (insect) · ksw စီၤကပ့ၤ (insect) · ln kipouzala class 9a/10a (insect) · ady хьэтӏрэпӏый (insect) · yi זומער־פֿייגעלע (insect) · nch papalotl (insect) · id rama-rama (insect) · da skurvefugl (insect) · sn shavishavi (insect) · tbl kbangi (insect) · ady хьэнтӏэрэпӏый (insect) · mas ɔsámpúrimpúri (insect) · sid bilach'a (insect) · ryu はーべーるー (insect) · hsb mjetel (insect) · tt күбәләк (insect) · nds Sommervagel (insect) · tyv ховаган (insect) · hy թիթեռ (insect) · ceb kabakaba (insect) · abq лымхӏарыгӏв (insect) · ain ヘポラㇷ゚ (insect) · vls vlienders (insect) · ajg pkolinouhoin (insect) · gd dealan-dè (insect) · tpw panama (insect) · kwf bébe (insect) · mk пеперутка (insect) · av кӏалкӏучӏ (insect) · mnk firifiroo (insect) · tpi bataplai (insect) · es mariposa (insect) · to pepe (insect) · az pərvanə (insect) · tpw panapanã (insect) · myv нимиляв (insect) · cad banús (insect) · evn авава (insect) · mop pempem (insect) · mww npooj npaim (insect) · kum гюмелек (insect) · nl pepel (insect) · hu pillangó (insect) · sjd а̄льп (insect) · kum гёбелек (insect) · hch kɨpí (insect) · fa پَرْوانِه (insect) · mzn پاپلی (insect) · eu jainkoilo (insect) · sc maniposa (insect) · bua эрбээхэй (insect) · lmo parpaja (insect) · tn serurubele (insect) · ty pepe (insect) · zh 尾蝶 (insect) · pap barbulètè (insect) · czn kwiylīxí (insect) · mrj лӹпӹ (insect) · nds Bottervagel (insect) · ml പൂമ്പാറ്റ (insect) · gu ફૂદું (insect) · gej abey (insect) · nys bataplai (insect) · rm tschitta (insect) · ha balebale (insect) · ceb alibangbang (insect) · kk елбелек (insect) · kxb kutuu (insect) · nds Botterlicker (insect) · urb yenjè (insect) · kld balabalaa (insect) · wim konkoniyang (insect) · oc parpalhon (insect) · sw kipepeo (butterfly tape) · zh 蝶婆 (insect) · ugo ลาบู้ (insect) · chy hevávȧhkema (insect) · msn rōm (insect) · la pāpiliō (insect) · hop poliwe (insect) · mr फुलपाखरू (insect) · crk kamâmak (insect) · gag kelebek (insect) · kjh хубаған (insect) · mba alibangbang (insect) · bjb bilyilya (insect) · be матылёк (insect) · rom lepetka (insect) · mn ᠡᠷᠪᠡᠬᠡᠢ (insect) · sva პერპელ (insect) · eo papilio (insect) · fon awɛwɛ (insect) · ht papiyon (insect) · nds Sommerlott (insect) · tk kebelek (insect) · xnb ta'anna (insect) · yij gawarliwarli (insect) · nl kapel (insect) · nn sumarfugl (insect) · gej abè (insect) · csb mòtil (insect) · ar فراشة (insect) · qu pillpintu (insect) · nl schoenlapper (insect) · pcc mbucmbax (insect) · lt drugys (insect) · mi wairua atua (insect) · zza perpelek (insect) · sl metulj (insect) · na iyewaeoe (insect) · gej abèbe (insect) · nhn papalotl (insect) · nl pennenvogel (insect) · arq بوفرفطو (insect) · ast caparina (insect) · lbe чӏимучӏали (insect) · aho 𑜉𑜢𑜂𑜫 𑜈𑜣 (insect) · uz kapalak (insect) · bkd kalibangbang (insect) · dum vīveltre (insect) · mos pilimpiko (insect) · ota كلبك (insect) · grc σητόδοκις (insect) · om biillaacha (insect) · vro liblik (insect) · lkt kimímila (insect) · bi nambembe (insect) · cs motýlek (butterfly tape) · ltg lipiņs (insect) · lmo parpaj (insect) · maz xefi (insect) · an volandrina (insect) · krc гёбелекке (insect) · tgx lelā (insect) · lam ici-pempele (insect) · kn ಹಾತೆ (insect) · ilo kulibangbang (insect) · tig tsenblale (insect) · mpe bimbilo (insect) · kne palikwawa (insect)
wikidata: Q245249 · wikidata: Q11946202 · wikidata: Q11946202