Dutch

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Etymology

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From vlinder (butterfly) +‎ -en. The senses "move like a butterfly" and "observe butterflies" are simple denominative formations (compare vogelen); the swimming sense however is based on vlinderslag. This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term. Todo: elucidate the origin of the "smooth with a trowel" sense?

Pronunciation

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Verb

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vlinderen

  1. (intransitive) to flutter, to move like a butterfly
    Synonym: fladderen
  2. (intransitive, swimming) to swim the butterfly stroke
  3. (transitive, construction) to smooth a new concrete floor using a trowel or some other tool
    Synonym: polieren
  4. (intransitive, biology) to observe butterflies (recreationally or for scientific purposes)

Conjugation

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Conjugation of vlinderen (weak)
infinitive vlinderen
past singular vlinderde
past participle gevlinderd
infinitive vlinderen
gerund vlinderen n
present tense past tense
1st person singular vlinder vlinderde
2nd person sing. (jij) vlindert, vlinder2 vlinderde
2nd person sing. (u) vlindert vlinderde
2nd person sing. (gij) vlindert vlinderde
3rd person singular vlindert vlinderde
plural vlinderen vlinderden
subjunctive sing.1 vlindere vlinderde
subjunctive plur.1 vlinderen vlinderden
imperative sing. vlinder
imperative plur.1 vlindert
participles vlinderend gevlinderd
1) Archaic. 2) In case of inversion.

Derived terms

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