# butterfly

/ˈbətɝˌfɫaɪ/ (US) · /bˈʌtəflˌaɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/butterfly
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the insect

noun · CEFR A1

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. swimming style

noun · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. nervous feeling

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a nervous or excited feeling in your stomach.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. finance strategy

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

### 5. medical tape

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

### 6. to cut food open

verb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- A colorful butterfly landed on the flower.
- The children spent the afternoon in the garden trying to identify each butterfly by the patterns on its wings.
- During the spring migration, thousands of butterflies pass through the valley, creating a vibrant display of orange and black against the green landscape.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.