catchfly

9.9

A small flowering plant with sticky stems that trap insects

noun
/ˈkæʧflaɪ/

Specialized

: silene

The stem of a catchfly is covered in sticky hairs that trap small insects.

Examples

Bright pink catchfly flowers lined the edge of the meadow in early summer.
Gardeners value the catchfly for its colorful blossoms and resilience.
The catchfly blooms beautifully in the summer.
Many gardeners love to plant catchflies in their flower beds.
The gardener was thrilled to discover a patch of catchfly blooming in her yard, attracting many small insects.
In summer, the catchfly plants fill the meadow with beautiful sticky flowers that trap unwary bugs.
As the sun set, the catchfly flowers opened up, revealing their unique sticky stems designed to catch insects.

Synonyms

campion

vscatchfly

Specialized

4 9.8

A plant with bright flowers that grows in meadows and fields

refers specifically to plants with sticky stems that trap insects

Silene

vscatchfly

Specialized

9.5

A flowering plant with bright, pretty petals often called campion

focuses on sticky stems that trap small insects

genus Lychnis

vscatchfly

Specialized

9.9

A group of flowering plants with bright, attractive flowers often grown in gardens

describes plants defined by sticky stems that trap small insects

lychnis

vscatchfly

Specialized

9.9

A plant that lives for several years with sticky stems and bright flowers

is the plant type known for sticky stems that trap small insects

Surface Forms

catchfly singular

catchflies plural

Morphology

catchfly = catch + fly (transparent) = catch + fly

The plant name is a straightforward compound 'catch' + 'fly' describing a plant that can trap small insects, so the meaning is directly inferable.

Etymology

Catchfly comes from the simple English parts catch and fly, meaning 'to catch' and 'fly'. The plant got this name because its sticky stems can trap small insects, so the name gives a clear picture of a plant that 'catches' flies.