family Nymphalidae

6.8

A group of colorful butterflies like monarchs and admirals

noun
/ˈfæmɪli nɪmˈfælɪdi/

Specialized

: familia Nymphalidae

The family Nymphalidae includes well-known butterflies like monarchs and admirals.

Examples

Many species in the family Nymphalidae exhibit striking and colorful wing patterns.
Researchers study the family Nymphalidae to learn more about butterfly evolution and diversity.
The family Nymphalidae includes many beautiful butterflies.
Many species in the family Nymphalidae are easily recognizable.
Many species in the family Nymphalidae exhibit striking and colorful wing patterns.
The family Nymphalidae includes well-known butterflies like monarchs and admirals.
Researchers study the family Nymphalidae to learn more about butterfly evolution and diversity.

Synonyms

Nymphalidae

vsfamily Nymphalidae

Specialized

9.9

A large family of brightly colored butterflies like monarchs and admirals

focuses on diverse patterns and well known species rather than common naming

Surface Forms

family Nymphalidae singular

families Nymphalidae plural

Morphology

family + Nymphalidae

The phrase is fully compositional: 'family' denotes a taxonomic grouping and 'Nymphalidae' is the proper name of that family, so the combined meaning is simply the butterfly family called Nymphalidae. Scientific naming conventions for taxa are consistent across languages, so a learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Family Nymphalidae comes from the old word nymph, a small fairy or young goddess in stories, because these butterflies looked graceful and beautiful to early naturalists. The ending -idae is a scientific way to say 'family', so the name points to a group of pretty, colorful butterflies we know today.