but·ter·fly
ˈbə-tər-ˌflī 
often attributive
1
: any of numerous slender-bodied diurnal lepidopteran insects including one superfamily (Papilionoidea) with broad often brightly colored wings and usually another superfamily comprising the skippers
2
: something that resembles or suggests a butterfly
especially
: a person chiefly occupied with the pursuit of pleasure
3
: a swimming stroke executed in a prone position by moving both arms in a circular motion while kicking both legs up and down
4
butterflies plural
: a feeling of hollowness or queasiness caused especially by emotional or nervous tension or anxious anticipation
5
: a defensive move by a goalie in ice hockey executed by dropping to the knees while spreading the lower legs outward
butterflied; butterflying
: to split almost entirely and spread apart
a butterflied steak
butterflied shrimp
Synonyms
Examples of butterfly in a Sentence
Noun
They competed in the butterfly.
Verb
Butterfly the chicken before roasting.
Recent Examples on the Web
USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
Long arching stems hold long panicles that attract butterflies to your yard.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2024
The Gilder Center at the AMNH features a butterfly vivarium, as well as 3,000 artifacts and specimens on display from the museum’s collections.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
Kelley has brown hair, blue eyes and a butterfly tattoo on her left forearm, the advisory said.
—Antonio Planas, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024
Legions of insects have evolved to help native plants with long-distance reproduction, including butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, midges and gnats.
—Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Additional attractions include a Sweet Pea Maze, a butterfly garden, Santa’s Playground, an American flag of flowers and a Mediterranean Garden.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
This aromatic plant can substitute for allspice and is a host plant of the spicebush swallowtail butterfly.
—Daryln Brewer Hoffstot Kristian Thacker, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
Rainbow Butterfly Tulle Dress $68 If your little one is into butterflies and rainbows, this rainbow butterfly tulle dress from Lola and the Boys will be a big hit.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2024
The Arizona Republic, 14 Feb. 2024
At the supermarket, ask the butcher to spatchcock or butterfly the whole chicken for you.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 9 Dec. 2023
Achieve the ultimate crispiness when roasting a chicken without worrying about dryness by butterflying the bird.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2023
The dinner's backdrop will be a canvas of American monarch butterflies and Australian Cairns Birdwing butterflies against roses and delphinium for the U.S. and eucalyptus for Australia.
—Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2023
Adds dry-brining and butterflying and includes vegetarian centerpiece alternatives, such as mushroom lasagna and savory cabbage strudel.
—Dylan Moriarty, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023
The bag opens the same way the standard-sized Weekenders do, with a metal frame that butterflies open to give you access to more of your things at once.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 23 Aug. 2023
Betsey Johnson butterflies in her hair and De Beers Jewellers diamonds, as a tribute to the silent film stars of the Gilded Age.
08
Olivia Rodrigo's Feather Dress
During an appearance on The Late Late Show With James Corden, Rodrigo sported a feathery AREA dress in bright neon colors.
—Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2023
The two-level garden feels like a slice of rainforest jungle and includes a cave-like tunnel and 20-foot waterfall, around which butterflies flutter between colorful flowers.
—Chris Schalkx, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2023
Noun
Read the full Taurus Daily Horoscope Gemini (May 21 - June 21)
Social butterfly?
—USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
Long arching stems hold long panicles that attract butterflies to your yard.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2024
The Gilder Center at the AMNH features a butterfly vivarium, as well as 3,000 artifacts and specimens on display from the museum’s collections.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
Kelley has brown hair, blue eyes and a butterfly tattoo on her left forearm, the advisory said.
—Antonio Planas, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024
Legions of insects have evolved to help native plants with long-distance reproduction, including butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, midges and gnats.
—Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Additional attractions include a Sweet Pea Maze, a butterfly garden, Santa’s Playground, an American flag of flowers and a Mediterranean Garden.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
This aromatic plant can substitute for allspice and is a host plant of the spicebush swallowtail butterfly.
—Daryln Brewer Hoffstot Kristian Thacker, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
Rainbow Butterfly Tulle Dress $68 If your little one is into butterflies and rainbows, this rainbow butterfly tulle dress from Lola and the Boys will be a big hit.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2024
Verb
Swallowtail butterflies Large butterflies with colorful wings and distinctive swallowtail extensions.
—The Arizona Republic, 14 Feb. 2024
At the supermarket, ask the butcher to spatchcock or butterfly the whole chicken for you.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 9 Dec. 2023
Achieve the ultimate crispiness when roasting a chicken without worrying about dryness by butterflying the bird.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2023
The dinner's backdrop will be a canvas of American monarch butterflies and Australian Cairns Birdwing butterflies against roses and delphinium for the U.S. and eucalyptus for Australia.
—Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2023
Adds dry-brining and butterflying and includes vegetarian centerpiece alternatives, such as mushroom lasagna and savory cabbage strudel.
—Dylan Moriarty, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023
The bag opens the same way the standard-sized Weekenders do, with a metal frame that butterflies open to give you access to more of your things at once.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 23 Aug. 2023
Betsey Johnson butterflies in her hair and De Beers Jewellers diamonds, as a tribute to the silent film stars of the Gilded Age.
08
Olivia Rodrigo's Feather Dress
During an appearance on The Late Late Show With James Corden, Rodrigo sported a feathery AREA dress in bright neon colors.
—Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2023
The two-level garden feels like a slice of rainforest jungle and includes a cave-like tunnel and 20-foot waterfall, around which butterflies flutter between colorful flowers.
—Chris Schalkx, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'butterfly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing butterfly
Dictionary Entries Near butterfly
Cite this Entry
“Butterfly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butterfly. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
butterfly
noun
but·ter·fly
-ˌflī
1
: any of numerous slender-bodied day-flying insects with large often brightly colored wings compare moth
2
: a swimming stroke performed by moving both arms together in a circular motion while kicking the legs up and down
3
plural
: a queasy feeling caused by nervousness
Medical Definition
butterfly
1 of 2 noun
but·ter·fly
-ˌflī
plural butterflies
1
plural
: a feeling of hollowness or queasiness caused especially by emotional or nervous tension or anxious anticipation
butterfly
2 of 2 adjective
: affecting the part of the face including the cheeks and the bridge of the nose
the typical butterfly lesion of lupus erythematosus
More from Merriam-Webster on butterfly
Nglish: Translation of butterfly for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of butterfly for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about butterfly
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