heliconius

noun

hel·​i·​co·​ni·​us
ˌheləˈkōnēəs
1
capitalized : a large Neotropical genus of long-winged butterflies that are often brilliantly colored or mimetic and that with related American butterflies constitute a subfamily of Nymphalidae or in some classifications the separate family Heliconiidae
2
plural heliconii
-ēˌī
: any butterfly of the genus Heliconius

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, of Helicon

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Cite this Entry

“Heliconius.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heliconius. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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