Definition

Noun: 1. A type of insect: A dragonfly is a flying insect characterized by a long, slender body, large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent, often iridescent wings that are held outstretched when at rest, and a non-stinging body. Both the adult and its aquatic nymph (larva) are predators that feed on other insects, such as mosquitoes.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • A brilliant blue dragonfly hovered over the pond before darting away.
  • The garden is a healthy ecosystem, as evidenced by the many dragonflies hunting for pests.
  • Unlike damselflies, a dragonfly holds its wings horizontally when resting.

Advanced Usage

• In symbolism and culture: The dragonfly is often used symbolically in art and literature to represent change, adaptability, and living in the moment, due to its agile flight and life cycle that transforms from a water-dwelling nymph to an aerial adult.
  • The poet used the image of a dragonfly as a metaphor for fleeting beauty.

Variants and Related Words

• Odonate (n): The scientific order name for dragonflies and damselflies.
• Nymph (n) / Naiad (n): The aquatic larval stage of a dragonfly.
• Damselfly (n): A related insect similar to a dragonfly but typically smaller, with eyes separated on the head, and which holds its wings together above its body when at rest.

Synonyms

• Darning needle (informal, regional)
• Devil's darning needle (informal, regional)
• Mosquito hawk (informal, regional)

Related Idioms or Phrases

• "To be a dragonfly": While not a common idiom, describing someone or something as a "dragonfly" can imply swift, graceful, or unpredictable movement.
  • The skater moved across the ice like a dragonfly, light and precise.

Noun

1. slender-bodied non-stinging insect having iridescent wings that are outspread at rest; adults and nymphs feed on mosquitoes etc.