mayfly
mayfly — noun
1. A small flying insect that is found near lakes, rivers, and streams. The adult m
A small flying insect that is found near lakes, rivers, and streams. The adult mayfly survives for only one or two days — just long enough to mate and lay eggs before dying.
Lucas sat by the river and watched a mayfly land on his fishing rod.
collocation: mayfly + land on [surface]
At camp, the children were amazed that a mayfly lives less than a day as an adult.
Élise noticed dozens of mayflies dancing over the surface of the lake at sunset.
An adult mayfly lives so briefly that it has no mouth to eat.
A single female mayfly can lay hundreds of eggs in the water before dying.
用法筆記
The plural form is mayflies. This noun refers to the insect species itself; its figurative use to mean 'something short-lived' appears in the adjective entry.
mayfly — adjective
1. Describing something that exists or remains for only a brief period — for exampl
Describing something that exists or remains for only a brief period — for example, a fleeting moment of fame, a sudden burst of popularity, or a passing emotional state.
Lucas's mayfly fame ended the moment the news cycle moved on.
figurative use: mayfly fame
The band enjoyed a mayfly popularity that lasted only through one summer.
In the world of social media, mayfly trends appear and disappear within hours.
The couple's mayfly romance burned bright and was over before autumn.
Some critics dismissed the artist's work as a mayfly phenomenon with no lasting value.
- fleeting
More common in everyday language; emphasizes speed of passing
- ephemeral
More formal and literary; implies something that lasts exactly one day (from Greek)
- short-lived
The most neutral and widely used alternative; less poetic
- transient
Suggests something passing through without staying; used for people or conditions
文法句型
mayfly + noun — describing a short-lived phenomenon
用法筆記
Almost always used in attributive position (directly before a noun). It is strongly associated with literary, descriptive, or critical writing rather than everyday conversation.