dragonfly
Americannoun
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dragonflies
plural
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any of numerous stout-bodied, nonstinging insects of the order Odonata (suborder Anisoptera), the species of which prey on mosquitoes and other insects and are distinguished from the damselflies by having the wings outstretched rather than folded when at rest.
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Military. Dragonfly, a two-seat, twin-turbojet U.S. attack aircraft in service since 1967, armed with a Minigun and capable of carrying nearly 5700 pounds (2585 kilograms) of ordnance.
noun
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any predatory insect of the suborder Anisoptera, having a large head and eyes, a long slender body, two pairs of iridescent wings that are outspread at rest, and aquatic larvae: order Odonata See also damselfly
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any other insect of the order Odonata
Regionalisms
the dragonfly is also called a darning needle and a devil's darning needle in the Northern and Western U.S. In the Northern U.S. it is also called a sewing needle. In the Midland U.S. it is called a snake feeder, in the South Midland and Southern U.S. a snake doctor, and in the Southern U.S., especially in the Southern Coastal areas, it is called a mosquito hawk or a skeeter hawk. Spindle is also in use, chiefly in New Jersey and in the Delaware Valley. Ear sewer is in older use in some scattered regional areas.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of dragonfly
Vocabulary lists containing dragonfly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He’s started dressing in oversized designer T-shirts, massive shearling coats, and a slim suit with dragonflies on it—with matching dragonfly shoes.
From Slate ● Oct. 30, 2024
A dragonfly lands on a plant near one of the yard’s water features.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2024
These conditions preserved fossils in incredible detail, capturing delicate structures like dragonfly wings and even a dinosaur feather.
From New York Times ● May 14, 2024
Wetland habitat in particular is under threat and several other species of dragonfly have not been lucky enough to increase their ranges, the wildlife charity said.
From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2024
“Make for the top of the cliff,” said the dragonfly rider, “and give yourself up to the Africans. They’re your best hope.”
From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman
The meadow has become a haven for other wildlife, including dragonflies and grasshoppers.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
The centre includes dipping ponds filled with aquatic life and dragonflies.
From BBC ● May 8, 2026
In dragonflies, reflected light plays a key role in how individuals appear to one another.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 9, 2026
Red and blue dragonflies buzzed about our heads.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2025
The dragonflies would do exactly as they were told, but their bodies couldn’t easily cope with cold, and besides, they were tossed about dangerously in the wild wind.
From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
