A fast-flying insect with a long body, large eyes, and two pairs of thin, transparent wings. Dragonflies often live near water and eat smaller insects like mosquitoes.
A compound of 'dragon' + 'fly', first used in the 17th century. The 'dragon' part may come from old folk names linking the insect to dragons or serpents. The name reflects its fierce appearance and hunting style.
Dragonflies are aerial acrobats that can fly backward, hover, and change direction in a split second. Fossil relatives of dragonflies once had wingspans over two feet wide, dominating prehistoric skies. The gentle insect you see today is the miniaturized survivor of ancient giants.
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