What does butterfly mean?we found 3 entries for the meaning of butterfly
 

Butterfly \But"ter*fly`\, n.; pl. Butterflies. [Perh. from the color of a yellow species. AS. buter-fl[=e]ge, buttor-fle['o]ge; cf. G. butterfliege, D. botervlieg. See Butter, and Fly.]

(Zool.) A general name for the numerous species of diurnal Lepidoptera.

Note: [See Illust. under Aphrodite.]

[1913 Webster]

Asclepias butterfly. See under Asclepias.

Butterfly fish (Zool.), the ocellated blenny (Blennius ocellaris) of Europe. See Blenny. The term is also applied to the flying gurnard.

Butterfly shell (Zool.), a shell of the genus Voluta.

Butterfly valve (Mech.), a kind of double clack valve, consisting of two semicircular clappers or wings hinged to a cross rib in the pump bucket. When open it somewhat resembles a butterfly in shape. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

 

butterfly

noun

1: diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed antennae and broad colorful wings
2: a swimming stroke in which the arms are thrown forward together out of the water while the feet kick up and down [syn: butterfly stroke]

verb

1: flutter like a butterfly
2: cut and spread open, as in preparation for cooking; "butterflied shrimp"
3: talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions; "The guys always try to chat up the new secretaries"; "My husband never flirts with other women" [syn: chat up, flirt, dally, coquet, coquette, romance, philander, mash]

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

 

Butterfly \But"ter*fly`\, n.; pl. Butterflies. [Perh. from the color of a yellow species. AS. buter-fl[=e]ge, buttor-fle['o]ge; cf. G. butterfliege, D. botervlieg. See Butter, and Fly.]

(Zo["o]l.) A general name for the numerous species of diurnal Lepidoptera.

Note: [See Illust. under Aphrodite.]

Asclepias butterfly. See under Asclepias.

Butterfly fish (Zo["o]l.), the ocellated blenny (Blennius ocellaris) of Europe. See Blenny. The term is also applied to the flying gurnard.

Butterfly shell (Zo["o]l.), a shell of the genus Voluta.

Butterfly valve (Mech.), a kind of double clack valve, consisting of two semicircular clappers or wings hinged to a cross rib in the pump bucket. When open it somewhat resembles a butterfly in shape.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

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