Hypertext Webster Gateway: "butterfly"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Butterfly \But"ter*fly`\, n.; pl. {Butterflies}. [Perh. from the
color of a yellow species. AS. buter-fl[=e]ge,
buttor-fle['o]ge; cf. G. butterfliege, D. botervlieg. See
{Butter}, and {Fly}.] (Zo["o]l.)
A general name for the numerous species of diurnal
Lepidoptera.
Note: [See Illust. under {Aphrodite}.]
{Asclepias butterfly}. See under {Asclepias}.
{Butterfly fish} (Zo["o]l.), the ocellated blenny ({Blennius
ocellaris}) of Europe. See {Blenny}. The term is also
applied to the flying gurnard.
{Butterfly shell} (Zo["o]l.), a shell of the genus {Voluta}.
{Butterfly valve} (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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
butterfly
n 1: diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed
antennae and broad colorful wings
2: a swimming stroke in which the arms are thrown forward
together out of the water while the feet kick up and down
[syn: {butterfly stroke}]
v 1: flutter like a butterfly
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" [syn: {chat up}, {flirt},
{dally}, {coquet}, {coquette}, {romance}, {philander}, {mash}]
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