nymphalid

nym·pha·lid  (nmf-ld)

n.

Any of various medium to large butterflies of the family Nymphalidae, found worldwide and characterized by vestigial forelegs and often brilliant coloring.

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[From New Latin Nymphlidae, family name, from Nymphlis, type genus, ultimately from Latin nympha, nymph; see nymph.]

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nymphalid [ˈnɪmfəlɪd]

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any butterfly of the family Nymphalidae, typically having brightly coloured wings: includes the fritillaries, tortoiseshells, red admirals, and peacock

adj

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) of, relating to, or belonging to the Nymphalidae

[from New Latin, from Nymphālis genus name, from Latin; see nymph]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

nymphalid - medium to large butterflies found worldwide typically having brightly colored wings and much-reduced nonfunctional forelegs carried folded on the breast brush-footed butterfly, four-footed butterfly, nymphalid butterfly butterfly - diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed antennae and broad colorful wings family Nymphalidae, Nymphalidae - large beautifully colored butterflies Camberwell beauty, mourning cloak, mourning cloak butterfly, Nymphalis antiopa - of temperate regions; having dark purple wings with yellow borders tortoiseshell butterfly, tortoiseshell - brilliantly colored; larvae feed on nettles painted beauty, Vanessa virginiensis - American butterfly having dark brown wings with white and golden orange spots admiral - any of several brightly colored butterflies red admiral, Vanessa atalanta - of temperate Europe and Asia; having black wings with red and white markings Limenitis camilla, white admiral - Eurasian butterfly with brown wings and white markings banded purple, Limenitis arthemis, white admiral - North American butterfly with blue-black wings crossed by a broad white band Limenitis astyanax, red-spotted purple - similar to the banded purple but with red spots on underwing surfaces Limenitis archippus, viceroy - showy American butterfly resembling the monarch but smaller anglewing - nymphalid butterfly having angular notches on the outer edges of the forewings comma butterfly, Polygonia comma, comma - anglewing butterfly with a comma-shaped mark on the underside of each hind wing fritillary - butterfly with brownish wings marked with black and silver emperor butterfly, emperor - large richly colored butterfly Inachis io, peacock, peacock butterfly - European butterfly having reddish-brown wings each marked with a purple eyespot