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mayfly

The definition of a mayfly is a thin insect with delicate wings that only lives a few days.

(noun)

An example of a mayfly is a thin and delicate insect.

See mayfly in Webster's New World College Dictionary

any of an order (Ephemeroptera) of delicate, soft-bodied insects with gauzy wings held vertically when at rest: in the adult stage, it lives only hours or a few days, but the aquatic larval stage may last for several years

Origin: so named because thought to be most prevalent in May

See mayfly in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Any of various fragile winged insects of the order Ephemeroptera that develop from aquatic nymphs and live in the adult stage no longer than a few days. Also called dayfly, shadfly.

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