butterflies

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of butterfly. Use this form when you mean more than one.

   The garden was full of bright, colorful butterflies.

   The children chased the butterflies across the meadow.

   Note
2. 2
   nounpluralabbreviationellipsis

   Short for butterflies in one's stomach. A nervous, fluttery feeling before something big.

   I had butterflies before my first day at the new school.

   She felt butterflies as she walked onto the stage.

   Note
3. 3
   verb

   Third-person singular present of butterfly. Use it with he, she, or it.

   The chef butterflies the shrimp before grilling them.

   The nurse butterflies the cut on his knee with thin strips of tape.

   Note

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