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hairstreak

American

[hair-streek] / ˈhɛərˌstrik /

noun

any small, dark butterfly of the family Lycaenidae, subfamily Theclinae, having hairlike tails on the hindwings.

hairstreak British

/ ˈhɛəˌstriːk /

noun

any small butterfly of the genus Callophrys and related genera, having fringed wings marked with narrow white streaks: family Lycaenidae

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of hairstreak

First recorded in 1810–20; hair + streak

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.

The white-letter hairstreak – whose caterpillars glow under ultraviolet light – has fallen by 80% since the scheme began.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

They were looking for caterpillars of the UK's five species of hairstreak butterfly.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2025

Emily Coulam, from the trust, said the data gathered by the volunteers would help them "develop projects which hope to increase abundance and range of the hairstreak butterflies through habitat creation and restoration".

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2025

The spokesperson said the Sheffield tree was "fortunately resistant" to the disease and was also home to the white-letter hairstreak butterfly, which had saved it from the chop during Sheffield City Council's felling programme.

From BBC • Aug. 15, 2023

In Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man similar measures are in place to protect species, including the dingy skipper and the purple hairstreak.

From BBC • Jun. 29, 2018

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023