Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun butterfly

2 senses of butterfly

Sense 1
butterfly -- (diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed antennae and broad colorful wings)
       => lepidopterous insect, lepidopteron, lepidopteran -- (insect that in the adult state has four wings more or less covered with tiny scales)

Sense 2
butterfly, butterfly stroke -- (a swimming stroke in which the arms are thrown forward together out of the water while the feet kick up and down)
       => swimming stroke -- (a method of moving the arms and legs to push against the water and propel the swimmer forward)

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb butterfly

3 senses of butterfly

Sense 1
butterfly -- (flutter like a butterfly)
       => flit, flutter, fleet, dart -- (move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart; "The hummingbird flitted among the branches")

Sense 2
butterfly -- (cut and spread open, as in preparation for cooking; "butterflied shrimp")
       => unfold, spread, spread out, open -- (spread out or open from a closed or folded state; "open the map"; "spread your arms")

Sense 3
chat up, flirt, dally, butterfly, coquet, coquette, romance, philander, mash -- (talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions; "The guys always try to chat up the new secretaries"; "My husband never flirts with other women")
       => talk, speak -- (exchange thoughts; talk with; "We often talk business"; "Actions talk louder than words")