butterfly : Idioms & Phrases

• (Zoöl.), a large, handsome, red and black butterfly (Danais Archippus), found in both hemispheres. It feeds on plants of the genus Asclepias.

Webster 1913

• noun medium to large butterflies found worldwide typically having brightly colored wings and much-reduced nonfunctional forelegs carried folded on the breast
  brush-footed butterfly; nymphalid; four-footed butterfly.
  

WordNet

• noun tropical shrub having clusters of white or violet or yellow flowers
  buddleia.
  

WordNet

• noun an entomologist who specializes in the collection and study of butterflies and moths
  lepidopterologist; lepidopterist.
  

WordNet

• noun the phenomenon whereby a small change at one place in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere, e.g., a butterfly flapping its wings in Rio de Janeiro might change the weather in Chicago
  

WordNet

• noun small usually brilliantly colored tropical marine fishes having narrow deep bodies with large broad fins; found worldwide
  

WordNet

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

Webster 1913

• noun any plant of the genus Schizanthus having finely divided leaves and showy variegated flowers
  poor man's orchid; schizanthus.
  
• noun shrub or small tree of Dutch Guiana having clusters of pink flowers streaked with purple
  Bauhinia monandra.
  

WordNet

• noun a threaded nut with winglike projections for thumb and forefinger leverage in turning
  thumbnut; wing screw; wing nut; wing-nut.
  

WordNet

• noun any orchid of the genus Psychopsis: spectacular large tiger-striped orchids
  
• noun any orchid of the genus Oncidium: characterized by slender branching sprays of small yellow and brown flowers; often grown as houseplants
  dancing lady orchid; oncidium; butterfly orchid.
  
• noun Mexican epiphytic orchid having pale green or yellow-green flowers with white purple-veined lip
  Encyclia venosa; butterfly orchid; Epidendrum venosum.
  
• noun orchid of Florida and the Bahamas having showy brightly colored flowers; sometimes placed in genus Epidendrum
  Epidendrum tampense; Encyclia tampensis.
  
• noun Mediterranean orchid having usually purple flowers with a fan-shaped spotted or striped rose-red lip
  butterfly orchid; Orchis papilionaceae.
  

WordNet

• noun Mexican epiphytic orchid having pale green or yellow-green flowers with white purple-veined lip
  Encyclia venosa; butterfly orchid; Epidendrum venosum.
  
• noun Mediterranean orchid having usually purple flowers with a fan-shaped spotted or striped rose-red lip
  butterfly orchid; Orchis papilionaceae.
  

WordNet

• noun vine of tropical Asia having pinnate leaves and bright blue flowers with yellow centers
  Clitoria turnatea; blue pea.
  
• noun large-flowered wild twining vine of southeastern and central United States having pale blue flowers
  Clitoria mariana.
  
• noun large-flowered weakly twining or prostrate vine of New Jersey to tropical eastern North America, sometimes cultivated for its purple and white flowers
  Centrosema virginianum.
  

WordNet

• noun orchid having large elliptic to obovate fleshy leaves and fragrant pink-and-white flowers dotted with red
  Phalaenopsis amabilis.
  
• noun any orchid of the genus Oncidium: characterized by slender branching sprays of small yellow and brown flowers; often grown as houseplants
  dancing lady orchid; oncidium; butterfly orchid.
  

WordNet

• noun a stingray with a short tail and a broad fin
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a shell of the genus Voluta.

Webster 1913

• noun a swimming stroke in which the arms are thrown forward together out of the water while the feet kick up and down
  butterfly.
  

WordNet

• noun a valve in a carburetor that consists of a disc that turns and acts as a throttle
  

WordNet

• (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.

Webster 1913

• noun erect perennial of eastern and southern United States having showy orange flowers
  Indian paintbrush; pleurisy root; chigger flower; tuber root; chiggerflower; Asclepias tuberosa; orange milkweed.
  

WordNet

• adjective satellite shaped like a butterfly
  

WordNet

• noun white butterfly whose larvae (cabbageworms) feed on cabbage
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a white butterfly (Pieris rapæ of both Europe and America, and the Allied P. oleracea, a native American species) which, in the larval state, devours the leaves of the cabbage and the turnip. See Cabbage worm, below.

Webster 1913

• noun anglewing butterfly with a comma-shaped mark on the underside of each hind wing
  Polygonia comma; comma.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), an American butterfly (Grapta comma), having a white comma-shaped marking on the under side of the wings.

Webster 1913

• noun large tropical butterfly with degenerate forelegs and an unpleasant taste
  danaid.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), one of several species of butterflies, which, in the caterpillar state, feed on the leaves of the elm (esp. Vanessa antiopa and Grapta comma). See Comma butterfly, under Comma.

Webster 1913

• noun large richly colored butterfly
  emperor.
  

WordNet

• noun medium to large butterflies found worldwide typically having brightly colored wings and much-reduced nonfunctional forelegs carried folded on the breast
  brush-footed butterfly; nymphalid; four-footed butterfly.
  

WordNet

• noun south European orchid with dark green flowers that are larger and less fragrant than Platanthera bifolia; sometimes placed in genus Habenaria
  Habenaria chlorantha; Platanthera chlorantha.
  

WordNet

• noun small butterflies having striped markings under the wings
  hairstreak.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any butterfly which, in the form and colors of its wings, resembles the leaves of plants upon which it rests; esp., butterflies of the genus Kallima, found in Southern Asia and the East Indies.

Webster 1913

• noun south European orchid having fragrant greenish-white flowers; sometimes placed in genus Habenaria
  Platanthera bifolia; Habenaria bifolia.
  

WordNet

• noun any of various butterflies of the family Lycaenidae
  lycaenid.
  

WordNet

• noun large migratory American butterfly having deep orange wings with black and white markings; the larvae feed on milkweed
  milkweed butterfly; monarch; Danaus plexippus.
  

WordNet

• noun large migratory American butterfly having deep orange wings with black and white markings; the larvae feed on milkweed
  milkweed butterfly; monarch; Danaus plexippus.
  

WordNet

• noun of temperate regions; having dark purple wings with yellow borders
  Nymphalis antiopa; mourning cloak; Camberwell beauty.
  

WordNet

• noun medium to large butterflies found worldwide typically having brightly colored wings and much-reduced nonfunctional forelegs carried folded on the breast
  brush-footed butterfly; nymphalid; four-footed butterfly.
  

WordNet

• noun European butterfly having reddish-brown wings each marked with a purple eyespot
  peacock; Inachis io.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a handsome European butterfly (Hamadryas Io) having ocelli like those of peacock.

Webster 1913

• noun any of numerous pale-colored butterflies having three pairs of well-developed legs
  pierid.
  

WordNet

• noun any of various butterflies belonging to the family Satyridae
  ringlet.
  

WordNet

Sea" but"ter*fly`

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A pteropod.

Webster 1913

• noun common North American form of cabbage butterfly
  Pieris protodice.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of delicate butterflies of tropical America belonging to the genus Ithomia. The wings are gauzy and nearly destitute of scales.

Webster 1913

• noun any of numerous yellow or orange butterflies
  sulfur butterfly.
  

WordNet

• noun any of numerous yellow or orange butterflies
  sulfur butterfly.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a handsomely colored American butterfly (Vanessa cardui) whose larva feeds upon thistles; called also painted lady.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any one of several species of handsomely colored butterflies of the genus Aglais, as A. Milberti, and A. urticæ, both of which, in the larva state, feed upon nettles.

Webster 1913

• noun brilliantly colored; larvae feed on nettles
  tortoiseshell.
  

WordNet