firefly

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a beetle of the family Lampyridae whose abdomen produces light, especially at twilight

   A firefly flashed above the grass as evening fell.

2. 2
   noun

   a tropical American click beetle with luminous spots on its body

   The tropical firefly glowed from two bright spots near its head.

A compound of fire + fly, named for the insect's visible glow. Despite fly in the name, the familiar firefly is a beetle; lightning bug and glow fly arose from the same striking feature.

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