[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/butterfly/)

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# butterfly

noun (a butterfly, butterflies)

«butterfly» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A butterfly is an insect with four large, often brightly coloured wings that flies by day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/butterfly/#m1)
2. Butterflies in your stomach is a fluttery feeling when you are nervous. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/butterfly/#m2)
3. Butterfly (stroke) is a swimming stroke where both arms move over the water together. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/butterfly/#m3)
4. A social butterfly is a person who moves happily from friend to friend. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/butterfly/#m4)

### In the lessons

In science, the butterfly life cycle is a famous example of complete metamorphosis: egg, caterpillar (larva), chrysalis (pupa), adult butterfly. Butterflies drink nectar and help pollinate flowers. In feelings lessons, butterflies in your tummy are a normal sign of nerves. Phrases: butterflies in my stomach, butterfly stroke, social butterfly, butterfly net.

### Examples

- A butterfly landed on the flower. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/butterfly/#x1)
- A caterpillar turns into a butterfly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/butterfly/#x2)
- Butterflies drink nectar from flowers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/butterfly/#x3)
- I had butterflies in my stomach before the play. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/butterfly/#x4)
- She swam the butterfly in the race. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/butterfly/#x5)
- The butterfly came out of its chrysalis. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/butterfly/#x6)
- Suppose I hunt butterflies, and you, serpents.” [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/butterfly/#x7)

### Note

Plural butterflies (y changes to ies). Butterflies usually fly by day and fold wings up; moths usually fly at night and rest with wings flat. Butterflies have six legs, like all insects. Touching wings can rub off their tiny scales and harm them.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «butterfly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/butterfly/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«butterfly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/butterfly.html) on Mova free.