noun
A flying insect with large, often colorful wings.
A butterfly landed on the flower.
We saw a blue butterfly in the garden.
Common phrases & grammar
colorful butterfly · butterfly wings · butterfly garden
a butterfly + verb
see + a butterfly
American English
How to pronounce butterfly
nounA1Common word
BUHderflai
/ˈbə.ɾɚˌflaɪ/
3 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
A flying insect with large, often colorful wings.
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
nounless common
A way of swimming in which both arms move together and both legs kick together.
She can swim butterfly very well.
He learned the butterfly stroke last summer.
Common phrases & grammar
butterfly stroke · swim butterfly
swim + butterfly
use + the butterfly stroke
Useful expressions
A person who enjoys meeting and talking to many people.
Maya is a social butterfly at parties.
The idea that a small change can have a large effect later.
The butterfly effect is hard to predict.
Related words & forms
The plural is butterflies, not butterflys.