butterflies

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Related to butterflies: butterflies in stomach

but·ter·fly

(bŭt′ər-flī′)

1. Any of numerous insects of the order Lepidoptera, having four broad, usually colorful wings, and generally distinguished from the moths by having a slender body and knobbed antennae and being active during the day.

2. A person interested principally in frivolous pleasure: a social butterfly.

3. Sports

a. A swimming stroke in which a swimmer lying face down draws both arms upward out of the water, thrusts them forward, and draws them back under the water in an hourglass design while performing a dolphin kick.

b. A race or a leg of a race in which this stroke is swum.

4. butterflies A feeling of unease or mild nausea caused especially by fearful anticipation.

tr.v. but·ter·flied, but·ter·fly·ing, but·ter·flies

To cut and spread open and flat, as shrimp.

[Middle English butterflye, from Old English butorflēoge : butor, butere, butter; see butter + flēoge, fly; see fly².]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

butterflies

(ˈbʌtəˌflaɪz)

pl n

informal tremors in the stomach region due to nervousness

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

Butterflies

See also insects.

Lepidoptera

an order of insects comprising the butterflies, moths, and skippers, that as adults have four membranous wings more or less covered with scales. — lepidopterous, lepidopteral, adj.

lepidopterology

a branch of zoology that studies butterflies and moths. — lepidopterist, n.

References in classic literature ?

"The butterflies are among the prettiest of all created things, and they are very sensitive to pain.

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There, like a child, he found amusement in chasing butterflies or watching the motions of water insects.

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She offered General Kitchener some jam on a cracker; but he only looked at her as the sphinx would have looked at a butterfly--if there are butterflies in the desert.

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The day was powerfully hot, and as we passed through the woods, everything was motionless, excepting the large and brilliant butterflies, which lazily fluttered about.

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They use that moon no more For the same end as before - Videlicet a tent - Which I think extravagant: Its atomies, however, Into a shower dissever, Of which those butterflies, Of Earth, who seek the skies, And so come down again(Never-contented things!) Have brought a specimen Upon their quivering wings.

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There were beautiful butterflies, moths and strange bugs in the securing of which the scientist evinced great delight, though when one beetle nipped him firmly and painfully on his thumb his involuntary cry of pain was as real as that of any other person.

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You should not mope all day in your rooms, but should come out into the green garden, and hear the birds sing with joy among the trees, and see the butterflies fluttering above the flowers, and hear the bees and insects hum, and watch the sunbeams chase the dew-drops through the rose-leaves and in the lily-cups.

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They encountered a plague of butterflies, and for days drove through untold millions of the fluttering beauties that covered the road with uniform velvet-brown.

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It's much more fun, I think, to chase after butterflies, climb trees, and steal birds' nests."

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And to me also, who appreciate life, the butterflies, and soap-bubbles, and whatever is like them amongst us, seem most to enjoy happiness.

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The morning wind gently rocked them to and fro, and the sun shone warmly down upon the dewy grass, where butterflies spread their gay wings, and bees with their deep voices sung among the flowers; while the little birds hopped merrily about to peep at them.

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Slowly, the fantastic women with butterflies' wings and the slender-limbed youths with the gorgeous pinions on their shoulders were vanishing into their black backgrounds with an effect of silent discretion, leaving us to ourselves.