butterfly

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

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}, {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}, {butterfly}, {coquet}, {coquette}, {romance},
       {philander}, {mash}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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}.] (Zool.)
   A general name for the numerous species of diurnal
   Lepidoptera.

   Note: [See Illust. under {Aphrodite}.]
         [1913 Webster]

   {Asclepias butterfly}. See under {Asclepias}.

   {Butterfly fish} (Zool.), the ocellated blenny ({Blennius
      ocellaris}) of Europe. See {Blenny}. The term is also
      applied to the flying gurnard.

   {Butterfly shell} (Zool.), 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.
      [1913 Webster]

from Who Was Who: 5000 B. C. to Date

BUTTERFLY

Madame, a little Japanese lady whose child has
remained the same size and age for the past eight years.