Pieridae

plural noun

Pi·​er·​i·​dae
pīˈerəˌdē
: a very large and almost cosmopolitan family of butterflies formerly regarded as a subfamily of Papilionidae that comprises the cabbage butterflies, sulphur butterflies, and others having three pairs of well-developed legs in both sexes and being usually of medium size and white or yellow color with dark markings especially on the edges of the wings

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Pieris, type genus + -idae

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Cite this Entry

“Pieridae.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pieridae. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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