mayfly
/'meiflai/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A short-lived insect: A mayfly is a slender insect with delicate, membranous wings. It is known for its extremely brief adult lifespan, often lasting less than two days. Its life cycle includes an aquatic larval stage and a terrestrial adult stage.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
Advanced Usage
- "Mayfly generation": A metaphorical term used to describe a group, trend, or technology that appears and disappears very quickly.
Variants and Related Words
- Ephemeroptera (n): The scientific order to which mayflies belong.
- Ephemeral (adj): Lasting for a very short time. This adjective is often associated with the mayfly's lifecycle.
Synonyms
- Dayfly: Another common name for a mayfly, emphasizing its short adult life.
- Shadfly: A regional name for mayflies, used in some areas of North America.
Related Phrases
- "Like a mayfly": An idiom used to describe something or someone with a very brief existence or moment of prominence.
Noun
- slender insect with delicate membranous wings having an aquatic larval stage and terrestrial adult stage usually lasting less than two days