B2 noun Neutre

butterfly

/ˈbʌtərflaɪ/

A butterfly is an insect with four large, often brightly colored wings that are covered with tiny scales. It develops from a caterpillar and is typically active during the day, visiting flowers to feed on nectar.

Exemples

3 sur 5
1

A bright yellow butterfly fluttered around the garden, landing occasionally on the daisies.

A bright yellow butterfly fluttered around the garden, landing occasionally on the daisies.

2

Conservation efforts are required to protect the endangered butterfly species indigenous to this rainforest.

Conservation efforts are required to protect the endangered butterfly species indigenous to this rainforest.

3

I'm so nervous about the presentation that I have butterflies in my stomach.

I'm so nervous about the presentation that I have butterflies in my stomach.

Famille de mots

Nom
butterfly
Verb
butterfly
Adjectif
butterflied
Apparenté
butterflying
💡

Astuce mémo

Think of 'butter' that can 'fly'—legend says they were named because they were thought to steal butter or because their excrement looks like butter.

Quiz rapide

He's such a ____; he knows everyone at this party and talks to everyone.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : social butterfly

Exemples

1

A bright yellow butterfly fluttered around the garden, landing occasionally on the daisies.

everyday

A bright yellow butterfly fluttered around the garden, landing occasionally on the daisies.

2

Conservation efforts are required to protect the endangered butterfly species indigenous to this rainforest.

formal

Conservation efforts are required to protect the endangered butterfly species indigenous to this rainforest.

3

I'm so nervous about the presentation that I have butterflies in my stomach.

informal

I'm so nervous about the presentation that I have butterflies in my stomach.

4

Metamorphosis in the butterfly involves a complete transformation from larva to pupa and finally to the imago stage.

academic

Metamorphosis in the butterfly involves a complete transformation from larva to pupa and finally to the imago stage.

5

To improve our market reach, we must adopt a butterfly strategy, expanding delicately into several niche sectors at once.

business

To improve our market reach, we must adopt a butterfly strategy, expanding delicately into several niche sectors at once.

Famille de mots

Nom
butterfly
Verb
butterfly
Adjectif
butterflied
Apparenté
butterflying

Collocations courantes

social butterfly a person who is very social and moves easily between different groups
butterfly effect the idea that small causes can have large effects
butterfly stroke a swimming style performed on the chest with both arms moving together
monarch butterfly a specific, well-known orange and black migratory butterfly
butterfly net a mesh net used for catching butterflies

Phrases Courantes

butterflies in one's stomach

to feel very nervous or excited

to butterfly a joint

to cut meat or fish nearly in half so it opens out flat

float like a butterfly

to move gracefully and lightly

Souvent confondu avec

butterfly vs moth

Moths are typically nocturnal and have feathery antennae, while butterflies are diurnal and have club-tipped antennae.

butterfly vs flutter

Flutter is the verb describing the movement, while butterfly is the name of the insect.

📝

Notes d'usage

While primarily used for the insect, 'butterfly' is frequently used in idiomatic English to describe social behavior or nervous feelings.

⚠️

Erreurs courantes

Learners often forget the plural form 'butterflies' (changing -y to -ies) or misuse the idiom 'butterflies in my stomach' in professional contexts where it might sound too informal.

💡

Astuce mémo

Think of 'butter' that can 'fly'—legend says they were named because they were thought to steal butter or because their excrement looks like butter.

📖

Origine du mot

Derived from Old English 'buterfloge', which literally means 'butter fly'.

Modèles grammaticaux

Countable noun Plural: butterflies Used as a transitive verb when referring to food preparation
🌍

Contexte culturel

In many cultures, the butterfly is a symbol of the soul, rebirth, and the ephemeral nature of life.

Quiz rapide

He's such a ____; he knows everyone at this party and talks to everyone.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : social butterfly

Mots lis

unvolsion

C1

The process of deliberately detaching or withdrawing from a state of complex entanglement or involvement, often within social or systemic structures. It describes a conscious reversal of 'involution,' where one seeks to simplify or exit a convoluted situation.

circumpugible

C1

To systematically encircle and attack or challenge a target from all possible directions. This verb is often used to describe strategic military maneuvers or intense rhetorical debates where an opponent is overwhelmed from every side.

semidocable

C1

A semidocable is a technical component or data unit that possesses limited or conditional compatibility with a primary docking system or documentation framework. It typically designates an item that requires secondary manual verification or a specialized adapter to achieve full functional integration.

postgradism

C1

Postgradism refers to the sociocultural condition, mindset, or lifestyle associated with being a postgraduate student. It often describes the immersive academic environment or the tendency for individuals to remain in higher education for an extended period after completing their initial degree.

inurbtude

C1

To cause a person to lose their refined or sophisticated manners, typically by subjecting them to a rough or unpolished environment. It describes the process of becoming inurbane, socially coarse, or lacking in city-bred civility.

hypermaterness

C1

Characterized by or relating to an extreme, often overbearing state of maternal instinct and overprotectiveness. This term is used to describe a level of mothering that exceeds typical boundaries, potentially stifling the independence of the child.

decedance

C1

Characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline, often associated with excessive indulgence in luxury, pleasure, or self-gratification. In modern contexts, it frequently describes things that are luxuriously rich or self-indulgent to the point of being excessive.

tricentcide

C1

Describing an act, event, or substance that results in the destruction or death of exactly three hundred distinct entities or individuals. It is also used in theoretical historical contexts to describe the catastrophic end of a three-hundred-year cycle or era.

autofugdom

C1

Describing a state of self-imposed isolation or the psychological condition of fleeing from one's own identity or social responsibilities. It characterizes a person or behavior focused on internal withdrawal and the avoidance of external reality to preserve a sense of self.

inplication

C1

To show that someone or something is involved in a crime, a scandal, or an undesirable situation. It can also refer to demonstrating that something is a contributing factor or cause of a specific outcome, typically a negative one.

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