btterfly -
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.
butterfly 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))]
