butterflies Definition

any of numerous slender-bodied diurnal lepidopteran insects including one superfamily (Papilionoidea) with broad often brightly colored wings and usually another superfamily comprising the skippers

something that resembles or suggests a butterfly; especially : a person chiefly occupied with the pursuit of pleasure

a swimming stroke executed in a prone position by moving both arms in a circular motion while kicking both legs up and down

to split almost entirely and spread apart

any of several largely white butterflies (family Pieridae) whose green larvae are cabbage worms; especially : a small cosmopolitan butterfly (Pieris rapae synonym Artogeia rapae) that is a pest on cabbage —called also cabbage white

any of a genus (Kallima) of nymphalid butterflies of southern Asia with wings resembling dried or dead leaves

any of a family (Danaidae) or nymphalid subfamily (Danaine) of large butterflies feeding on plants of the milkweed family as larvae; especially : monarch butterfly

a large migratory American butterfly (Danaus plexippus) that has orange-brown wings with black veins and borders and a larva that feeds on milkweed

any of numerous butterflies (especially Colias and related genera of the family Pieridae) having the wings usually yellow or orange with a black border —called also sulphur

the mottled horny substance of the shell of the hawksbill turtle used especially formerly in inlaying and in making various ornamental articles

any of several showy nymphalid butterflies (genera Nymphalis and Aglais) that have wings mottled with orange and brown or black