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

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# swallowtail

noun (a swallowtail, swallowtails)

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

## Everyday

1. A swallowtail is a large, brightly coloured butterfly with long points on its back wings that look like the forked tail of a swallow (a bird). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swallowtail/#m1)
2. Swallowtail can describe any shape with a deep forked end, like a swallowtail flag or swallowtail coat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swallowtail/#m2)

### In the lessons

Science and nature: swallowtails are a big family of butterflies found around the world; the UK's swallowtail lives only in the Norfolk Broads. Their caterpillars can push out a smelly orange «horn» to scare off birds. Life cycle: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly.

### Examples

- A yellow swallowtail landed on the flower. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swallowtail/#x1)
- The swallowtail butterfly has long tails on its wings. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swallowtail/#x2)
- In the UK, swallowtails live in the Norfolk Broads. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swallowtail/#x3)
- The swallowtail caterpillar was green with black stripes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swallowtail/#x4)
- The ship flew a swallowtail flag. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swallowtail/#x5)
- We drew a swallowtail for our minibeast project. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swallowtail/#x6)

### Note

Countable, one word. Named after the bird, the swallow, which has a forked tail. Not to be confused with «swallow» (to gulp down food).

## On Mova

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