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Glite Dictionary
🦋 A large butterfly 🦋 A butterfly genus
Ornithoptera

Ornithoptera

9.9
A very large bright butterfly from New Guinea and nearby islands
  • noun
  • /ɔrˈnɪθəˌptərə/
  • Australian
translation icon : Ornithoptera
  • Scientists traveled to Papua New Guinea to study the rare Ornithoptera in its natural habitat.

Examples

  • Collectors prize the Ornithoptera for its impressive size and vibrant colors.

  • The dazzling green wings of the Ornithoptera caught the attention of every visitor in the garden.

  • Look at that stunning Ornithoptera fluttering by!

  • The Ornithoptera is known for its vibrant colors.

  • The dazzling green wings of the Ornithoptera caught the attention of every visitor in the garden.

  • Scientists traveled to Papua New Guinea to study the rare Ornithoptera in its natural habitat.

  • Collectors prize the Ornithoptera for its impressive size and vibrant colors.

Synonyms

butterfly
vsOrnithoptera
160 1.0

A small insect with a thin body and bright wings that flies in daylight

is a specific large bright species native to Australasia rather than any day-flying insect
swallowtail
vsOrnithoptera
1 4.8

A large bright butterfly with long tails on its back wings

lacks or is not defined by long tail-like hind wing extensions

Surface Forms

Ornithoptera singular
Ornithopteras plural

Morphology

Ornithoptera = ornitho + ptera

The parts are Greek scientific combining forms (ornitho- 'bird', -ptera 'wing') that are not standalone English words, so an average B1 learner cannot derive the meaning from the components.

Etymology

The word Ornithoptera comes from Greek parts ornitho- meaning 'bird' and -ptera meaning 'wing'. So it literally means 'bird-wing', a helpful image for the very large, bright butterflies that have big, showy wings like small birds.