Definition of dragonfly
: any of a suborder (Anisoptera) of odonate insects that are larger and stouter than damselflies, hold the wings horizontal in repose, and have rectal gills during the naiad stage; broadly : odonate
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Recent Examples of dragonfly from the Web
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The red ants open the show with a precise, jaw-dropping, foot-juggling act; then a dragonfly performs an amazing hand-balancing act that had my kids both oooh-ing and ew-ing at his strength and flexibility.
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Near a window overlooking the grounds outside the arboretum's Thornhill Education Center was his favorite piece: a relief of hummingbirds and dragonflies among a bed of flowers.
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A dragonfly belt clasp gave a silk bustier dress in ochre a magical quality.
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Metallic-blue dragonflies cavorted above the pondweed at lake’s edge, zooming in and out of sight like glimpses of neon seen from a speeding car.
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Right now, scientists have only gone as far as getting the dragonfly to fly in a straight line.
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A blend of grenache and syrah, this rosé is an arrestingly ghostly pink, almost as clear and pale as a dragonfly's wing.
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Police found her dragonfly charm necklace, a bloody box-cutter knife, and a severed finger of hers at the scene.
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The trails loop around Quiambog Cove through fields lined with stone walls and filled with dragonflies and butterflies.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dragonfly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of dragonfly
First Known Use of dragonfly
1626
DRAGONFLY Defined for English Language Learners
dragonfly
playDefinition of dragonfly for English Language Learners
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: a large insect that has a long thin body and four wings and that is often seen near water
DRAGONFLY Defined for Kids
dragonfly
playDefinition of dragonfly for Students
dragonflies
: a large insect with a long slender body and four wings
Learn More about dragonfly
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See words that rhyme with dragonfly Spanish Central: Translation of dragonfly Nglish: Translation of dragonfly for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dragonfly
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