ˈbʌtəflaɪ n. (pl. -flies) 1
any diurnal insect of
the order Lepidoptera,
with knobbed antennae, a long
thin body,
and four usu. brightly
coloured wings
erect when at rest. 2 a
showy or
frivolous person. 3 (in pl.) colloq. a
nervous sensation felt in the
stomach. øbutterfly
net a fine net on a ring attached to a
pole, used
for catching butterflies. butterfly
nut a kind of wing-nut. butterfly
stroke a stroke in swimming, with
both arms raised and lifted
forwards together. butterfly
valve a valve with hinged
semicircular plates. [OE buttor-fleoge (as
BUTTER, FLY(2))]