dragonfly

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a predatory insect with a long body, very large eyes, and two pairs of transparent wings held open at rest, especially one of the infraorder Anisoptera

   A blue dragonfly hovered above the pond before settling on a reed.

A compound of dragon + fly, recorded from the early seventeenth century. The dramatic name probably reflects older folklore about the insect's appearance or supposed powers rather than any resemblance to a true dragon.

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