butterfly

[ buht-er-flahy ]
/ ˈbʌt ərˌflaɪ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR butterfly ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural but·ter·flies.

verb (used with object), but·ter·flied, but·ter·fly·ing.

Cookery. to slit open and spread apart to resemble the spread wings of a butterfly.

adjective Also butterflied.

Cookery. split open and spread apart to resemble a butterfly: butterfly shrimp; butterfly steak.

Origin of butterfly

before 1000; Middle English boterflye, Old English buttorflēoge. See butter, fly2

OTHER WORDS FROM butterfly

but·ter·fly·like, adjective, adverb

Words nearby butterfly

butterfield, butterfingers, butterfish, butterflies, butterflies in one's stomach, butterfly, butterfly ballot, butterfly bomb, butterfly bush, butterfly chair, butterfly closure

Words related to butterflies

jumpy, afraid, uncertain, concerned, suspicious, doubtful, uneasy, uptight, jittery, fearful, anxious, startled, panicky, unnerved, spooked, restless, fidgety, nervous, apprehensive, distressed

Example sentences from the Web for butterflies

British Dictionary definitions for butterflies (1 of 2)

butterflies
/ (ˈbʌtəˌflaɪz) /

pl n

informal tremors in the stomach region due to nervousness

British Dictionary definitions for butterflies (2 of 2)

butterfly
/ (ˈbʌtəˌflaɪ) /

noun plural -flies

any diurnal insect of the order Lepidoptera that has a slender body with clubbed antennae and typically rests with the wings (which are often brightly coloured) closed over the back Compare moth Related adjective: lepidopteran
a person who never settles with one group, interest, or occupation for long
a swimming stroke in which the arms are plunged forward together in large circular movements
commerce the simultaneous purchase and sale of traded call options, at different exercise prices or with different expiry dates, on a stock exchange or commodity market

Word Origin for butterfly

Old English buttorflēoge; the name perhaps is based on a belief that butterflies stole milk and butter