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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More gunships thudded down like giant dragonflies alighting.
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Those robo-dragonflies may not be the only creatures keeping an eye on you.
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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