Definition of firefly in English:
firefly
nounPlural fireflies ˈfʌɪəflʌɪˈfaɪ(ə)rˌflaɪ
A soft-bodied beetle related to the glow-worm, the winged male and flightless female of which both have luminescent organs. The light is chiefly produced in flashes and typically functions as a signal between the sexes.
Family Lampyridae: many species, especially in the tropics, and including the European Luciola lusitanica
- Triggered by dusk's fading daylight, male fireflies lift off into the air and begin their courtship.
- Later lab experiments showed that by flashing an artificial light at a firefly you could speed up its rhythm, you could slow it down, make it flash a little later than it would otherwise.
- We were guided as we went by millions of fireflies whose flashing marked the banks like landing lights on an airstrip.
- The firefly's light is only visible for an instant.
- The light from the firefly is an example of phosphorescence.
Definition of firefly in US English:
firefly
nounˈfaɪ(ə)rˌflaɪˈfī(ə)rˌflī
A soft-bodied beetle related to the glowworm, the winged male and flightless female of which both have luminescent organs. The light is chiefly produced as a signal between the sexes, especially in flashes.
Family Lampyridae: many species
- The firefly's light is only visible for an instant.
- Later lab experiments showed that by flashing an artificial light at a firefly you could speed up its rhythm, you could slow it down, make it flash a little later than it would otherwise.
- We were guided as we went by millions of fireflies whose flashing marked the banks like landing lights on an airstrip.
- Triggered by dusk's fading daylight, male fireflies lift off into the air and begin their courtship.
- The light from the firefly is an example of phosphorescence.