firefly
English · Thesaurus
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firefly¹
- /ˈfaɪ.əˌflaɪ/ UK
- /ˈfaɪ.ɚˌflaɪ/ US
Where it comes from
Endocentric compound of fire + fly, because the insects glow; whence also lightning bug. Compare glow fly, glowworm, and lanternfly.
Compare typologically Ancient Greek λαμπυρίς (lampurís, “glowworm”) (<+ πῦρ (pûr)).
noun fireflies · fire-fly
-
Any beetle of the family Lampyridae, which exhibit bioluminescence during twilight.
2000, Exploring Life Science, 2: Bats—Cave Life, Marshall Cavendish, page 96,
Fireflies are the best-known insects that produce light. […] Many fireflies use their light to communicate, particularly at mating time when males and females have to get together.
Similar: lightning beetle, lightning bug, glow fly
Firefly²
proper noun
- A locality in the MidCoast council area, eastern New South Wales, Australia.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: fire beetle, lightning bug, pyrophorus noctiluca, luciferin, luciferase, bioluminescence, fire-fly, lampyrid, lampyrine, lanternfly, firebeetle, glow fly, common glowworm, common glow-worm, glowworm, lantern fly
Translations
Every language
noun Lampyridae
| Español | luciérnaga |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 개똥벌레 gaettongbeolle, 반딧불 banditbul, 반딧불이 banditburi |
| 日本語 | 蛍 hotaru, ホタル hotaru |
| 中文 | 螢火蟲 /萤火虫 yínghuǒchóng |
| हिन्दी | ज्योतिरिंगण jyotiriṅgaṇ, खद्योत khadyot, जुगनू jugnū |
| Kiswahili | kimetameta |
| Português | vaga-lume, pirilampo, vagalume |
| Français | luciole, mouche à feu, moiselle, ver luisant |
| Deutsch | Glühwürmchen, Leuchtkäfer, Johanniswürmchen |
| Italiano | lucciola |
| Ελληνικά | πυγολαμπίδα pygolampída, κωλοφωτιά kolofotiá |
| Română | licurici |
| Русский | светля́к svetlják, светлячо́к svetljačók |
| Tiếng Việt | đom đóm, huỳnh |
| العربية | يَرَاعَة yarāʕa, حُبَاحِب ḥubāḥib |
| עברית | גַּחְלִילִית gaẖlilít |
Talk about this word "firefly." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/firefly. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. firefly. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/firefly "firefly." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/firefly.Cite this
@misc{firefly_2026,
title = {firefly},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/firefly},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
