English

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collection of butterflies

Noun

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butterflies

  1. plural of butterfly

Noun

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butterflies pl (plural only)

  1. Ellipsis of butterflies in one's stomach.
    • 2005, Andrew Porter, Suicide Squad: The Inside Story of a Football Firm:
      I was apprehensive, feeling butterflies, pissed, the sun cracking the flags.
    • 2007, Jeffrey Brown, Heavens Gate: Revelations, page 70:
      Trying to ignore his butterflies, he looks down at his watch just about every minute to make sure he has the right time.
    • 2013, Hayley Williams, Taylor York (lyrics and music), “Still Into You”, in Paramore, performed by Paramore:
      I should be over all the butterflies / But I'm into you
    • 2020, 8485 (lyrics and music), “1:15”‎[1]:
      I'm getting butterflies, like what the hell? / When I'm still feeling right all by myself
    • 2023 August 22, Megan Schaltegger, “Hate to Say It: The "Find My" App Could Be Hurting Your Relationship”, in Cosmopolitan[2]:
      Attraction depends on several factors, including mystery and spontaneity—especially early on in the relationship. It’s what keeps those butterflies and the desire for more connection alive.

Derived terms

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Verb

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butterflies

  1. third-person singular simple present indicative of butterfly

Anagrams

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