noun
dragonfly
DRA-guhn-fleye
Dragonfly (noun) means a flying insect with a long, slender body and two pairs of transparent wings held out flat at rest. Example: “A dragonfly hovered above the pond in the summer heat.”
noun
1
A flying insect with a long, slender body and two pairs of transparent wings held out flat at rest.
"Stacey Combes, who studies the biomechanics of dragonfly flight at Harvard, once watched a laboratory dragonfly eat 30 flies in a row."
— Natalie Angier, Nature’s Drone, Pretty and Deadly (2013)
"There were two dragonflies in the garden today."
"As the airboat skimmed across the shallow water, scattering blue dragonflies and launching a heron into the air, Keith Price squinted into the sun and relished the isolation of Florida’s unrivaled river of grass."
— Lizette Alvarez, In a Corner of the Everglades, a Way of Life Ebbs (2016)
"A dragonfly hovered above the pond in the summer heat."
How to use dragonfly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA fast-flying insect often seen near water, with a long body and shimmering wings.
Common pairings
dragonfly larvae
dragonfly wings
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Word forms
- Plural
- dragonflies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ hovered above the pond in the summer heat.
Etymology
From dragon + fly, likely referencing its fierce hunting style compared to the mythical creature.
Synonyms
View more →
snake feeder
snake doctor
skeeter hawk
sewing needle
mosquito hawk
darning needle
devil's darning needle
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “dragonfly” mean?
The word “dragonfly” means a flying insect with a long, slender body and two pairs of transparent wings held out flat at rest. In plain terms, a fast-flying insect often seen near water, with a long body and shimmering wings.
How do you pronounce “dragonfly”?
“Dragonfly” is pronounced DRA-guhn-fleye (/ˈdɹæɡənˌflaɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “dragonfly” in a sentence?
Here is “dragonfly” used in a sentence: “A dragonfly hovered above the pond in the summer heat.”
What part of speech is “dragonfly”?
“Dragonfly” is a noun.
