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Glite Dictionary
painted beauty

painted beauty

9.7
A North American butterfly with dark brown wings and white and orange spots
  • noun
  • /ˈpeɪntɪd ˈbjuːti/
  • US
translation icon : mariposa pintada
  • The painted beauty alighted gracefully on the blossom, its wings flashing in the sunlight.

Examples

  • Many gardeners enjoy attracting painted beauties by planting native wildflowers.

  • We spotted a painted beauty fluttering along the edge of the forest.

  • I spotted a painted beauty fluttering in the garden.

  • The painted beauties are known for their vibrant colors.

  • The painted beauty gracefully landed on a flower, showcasing its vibrant orange and white spots.

  • As we walked through the park, we saw a painted beauty basking in the warmth of the sun.

  • During our hike, we spotted a painted beauty dancing in the air near the wildflowers.

Synonyms

Vanessa virginiensis
vspainted beauty
  • Specialized
9.1

A North American butterfly with dark brown wings and white and orange spots

is a plain American description without the formal species label

Surface Forms

painted beauty singular
painted beauties plural

Morphology

painted + beauty

The phrase is compositionally transparent in that 'painted' (marked with colors) + 'beauty' (an attractive thing) yields the idea of a prettily marked creature, so learners can infer a visually attractive, color-marked object. However, the specific referent being a particular butterfly species is not predictable from the parts alone, so the expression is only partially predictable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Painted beauty: The name painted beauty comes from the way the wings look: dark wings with white and golden-orange spots seem as if someone painted them and are very beautiful. That's why the name is used for this small American 'butterfly'.