butterfly

1 of 2

noun

but·​ter·​fly ˈbə-tər-ˌflī 

often attributive

1

: any of numerous slender-bodied diurnal lepidopteran insects including one superfamily (Papilionoidea) with broad often brightly colored wings and usually another superfamily comprising the skippers

2

: something that resembles or suggests a butterfly

especially : a person chiefly occupied with the pursuit of pleasure

3

: a swimming stroke executed in a prone position by moving both arms in a circular motion while kicking both legs up and down

4

butterflies plural : a feeling of hollowness or queasiness caused especially by emotional or nervous tension or anxious anticipation

5

: a defensive move by a goalie in ice hockey executed by dropping to the knees while spreading the lower legs outward

butterfly

2 of 2

verb

butterflied; butterflying

transitive verb

: to split almost entirely and spread apart

a butterflied steak

butterflied shrimp

Synonyms

Noun

• dither
• heebie-jeebies
• jimjams
• jitters
• nerves
• screaming meemies
• shakes
• shivers
• whim-whams
• willies

Examples of butterfly in a Sentence

Noun

They competed in the butterfly.

Verb

Butterfly the chicken before roasting.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Bees and butterflies fly among the wildflowers, pollinating plants that thrive under the canopy. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025

Learn how to attract bees and butterflies to your garden. —Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2025

Verb

Prep your shrimp by peeling, deveining, and butterflying each one. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Jan. 2025

Experts say the proposal could put serious weight behind ongoing monarch conservation efforts across Arizona, perhaps the only state that hosts butterflies from three of North America’s regional monarch populations. —Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1952, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing butterfly

• butterfly bush
• butterfly chair
• butterfly effect
• butterfly fish
• butterfly kiss
• butterfly valve
• butterfly weed
• cabbage butterfly
• leaf butterfly
• milkweed butterfly
• monarch butterfly
• sulphur butterfly
• tortoiseshell butterfly
• viceroy butterfly

Kids Definition

butterfly

noun

but·​ter·​fly

-ˌflī

1

: any of numerous slender-bodied day-flying insects with large often brightly colored wings compare moth

2

: a swimming stroke performed by moving both arms together in a circular motion while kicking the legs up and down

3

plural : a queasy feeling caused by nervousness

Medical Definition

butterfly

1 of 2 noun

but·​ter·​fly -ˌflī 

plural butterflies

1

plural : a feeling of hollowness or queasiness caused especially by emotional or nervous tension or anxious anticipation

2

: butterfly bandage

butterfly

2 of 2 adjective

: affecting the part of the face including the cheeks and the bridge of the nose

the typical butterfly lesion of lupus erythematosus