Butterfly

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  butterfly
       n 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}]
       v 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}]