metalmark

noun

met·​al·​mark ˈme-tᵊl-ˌmärk How to pronounce metalmark (audio)
: any of a family (Riodinidae) of small or medium-sized usually brightly colored chiefly tropical butterflies that often have metallic coloration on the wings

Examples of metalmark in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Lange’s metalmark butterfly and Antioch Dunes evening primrose were listed as endangered species shortly before that. Judith Prieve, The Mercury News, 5 May 2024 The tiny Lange metalmark butterfly has also seen better days, at its height in 2000 with a population of 2,300. Judith Prieve, The Mercury News, 5 May 2024 This includes the San Joaquin kit fox and the Lange's metalmark butterfly. Grace Manthey, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2024 Biologists already knew that metalmark larvae produce a nutritious goo and feed it to ants in exchange for their protection from predators. National Geographic, 15 June 2016 Biologists already knew that metalmark larvae produce a nutritious goo and feed it to ants in exchange for their protection from predators. National Geographic, 15 June 2016

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of metalmark was in 1889

Dictionary Entries Near metalmark

Cite this Entry

“Metalmark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metalmark. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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