Link Centre Dictionary

butterfly

but·terfly

UK/ˈbʌ.tə(ɹ).flaɪ/ US/ˈbʌ.tə.flaɪ/ fairly common
noun (2) verb (3)

noun

1.
2.

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

Synonyms

verb

1.
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”
Synonyms

Origin

From Middle English buterflie, butturflye, boterflye, from Old English buterflēoge, equivalent to butter + fly.

Phrases

  • alfalfa butterfly
  • alpine butterfly bend
  • alpine butterfly knot
  • bird-winged butterfly
  • break a butterfly on a wheel
  • break a butterfly on the wheel
  • break a butterfly upon a wheel
  • break a butterfly upon the wheel

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

Part of

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.