butterfly

n. a flying insect with four large, often brightly coloured wings.

n. a diurnal insect of the order Lepidoptera, characterised by large, typically colourful wings and a slender body.

“A bright yellow butterfly landed on the flower in the garden.”

“The biologist spent the afternoon documenting the migration patterns of the monarch butterfly across the southern plains.”

n. a difficult swimming stroke where you move both arms together in a circle.

n. a swimming stroke performed in a prone position where both arms are moved symmetrically and simultaneously.

“She won the gold medal in the 100-metre butterfly.”

“The athlete's powerful butterfly technique allowed him to maintain a significant lead during the final lap of the medley.”

n. a nervous or excited feeling in your stomach.

n. a physical sensation of fluttering or slight nausea in the stomach caused by anxiety or anticipation.

“I always get butterflies in my stomach before I have to give a speech.”

“Despite her years of experience on stage, she still felt butterflies before the curtain rose on opening night.”

Informal

n. a way of trading options that limits both risk and profit.

n. an options strategy combining bull and bear spreads with a fixed risk and capped profit potential.

“The trader used a butterfly to protect his portfolio from big price changes.”

“The fund manager executed a complex butterfly spread to capitalise on the low volatility expected in the energy sector over the next quarter.”

Technical

n. a small piece of medical tape used to hold the edges of a cut together.

n. a narrow adhesive strip used to approximate the edges of a shallow wound in place of sutures.

“The doctor used a butterfly to close the small cut on my finger.”

“Since the laceration was clean and shallow, the emergency room physician opted for a butterfly closure rather than traditional stitches.”

Technical

v. to cut a piece of meat or fish almost in half so it opens up like wings.

v. to split a piece of meat, poultry, or fish nearly in half and spread it flat to ensure even cooking.

“You should butterfly the chicken breast so it cooks faster on the grill.”

“The chef demonstrated how to butterfly the leg of lamb to allow the marinade to penetrate the meat more effectively.”