Illustration of Venus flytrap
Venus flytrap
noun
Venus fly·trap
-ˈflī-ˌtrap 
: an insectivorous plant (Dionaea muscipula) of the sundew family of the Carolina coast with the leaf apex modified into an insect trap
called also Venus's-flytrap
Examples of Venus flytrap in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This classic summer vacation spot is also home to natural gifts, including Carolina Beach State Park, with some of the area's finest fishing and the Flytrap Trail, named for the carnivorous Venus flytrap plants along its path.
—
Tracey Minkin, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2024
The petite plant kit has nine different types of tropical plants in Lego brick format that result in a collection of prickly pears, jade plants, and Venus flytraps, popping out of terracotta-reminiscent pots.
—Melissa Epifano, EW.com, 3 Feb. 2024
The monsters on display are meant to perk us up (our heroes are chased by mutant grasshoppers, who get eaten by mutant Venus flytraps), but they, too, are unleashed in an onslaught that’s more random than not.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Dec. 2023
As fascinating as these plants are, none have captured the human imagination in the way that the Venus flytrap has.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023
The Venus flytraps of social media are a case in point; so is the heedless embrace of artificial intelligence.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 26 June 2023
According to a new paper published in the journal Current Biology, this mutant flytrap doesn't snap closed in response to stimulation like typical Venus flytraps.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 27 Jan. 2023
The same drugs quiet the gyrations of pea tendrils and the clenching of Venus flytraps.
—Amy Brady, Scientific American, 14 Feb. 2023
The animals and plants at risk of disappearing include crayfish, half of all U.S. cactus species, and the Venus flytrap, the report said, citing data from more than 1,000 scientists from the U.S. and Canada.
—Harold Maass, The Week, 7 Feb. 2023
Tracey Minkin, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2024
The petite plant kit has nine different types of tropical plants in Lego brick format that result in a collection of prickly pears, jade plants, and Venus flytraps, popping out of terracotta-reminiscent pots.
—Melissa Epifano, EW.com, 3 Feb. 2024
The monsters on display are meant to perk us up (our heroes are chased by mutant grasshoppers, who get eaten by mutant Venus flytraps), but they, too, are unleashed in an onslaught that’s more random than not.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Dec. 2023
As fascinating as these plants are, none have captured the human imagination in the way that the Venus flytrap has.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023
The Venus flytraps of social media are a case in point; so is the heedless embrace of artificial intelligence.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 26 June 2023
According to a new paper published in the journal Current Biology, this mutant flytrap doesn't snap closed in response to stimulation like typical Venus flytraps.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 27 Jan. 2023
The same drugs quiet the gyrations of pea tendrils and the clenching of Venus flytraps.
—Amy Brady, Scientific American, 14 Feb. 2023
The animals and plants at risk of disappearing include crayfish, half of all U.S. cactus species, and the Venus flytrap, the report said, citing data from more than 1,000 scientists from the U.S. and Canada.
—Harold Maass, The Week, 7 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Venus flytrap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1930, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Venus flytrap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Venus%20flytrap. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
Venus flytrap
noun
variants
or Venus's-flytrap
: an insect-eating plant that grows along the Carolina coast and has the tip of each leaf formed into an insect trap
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