slender-bodied non-stinging insect having iridescent wings that are outspread at rest; adults and nymphs feed on mosquitoes etc.
"The dragonfly hovered over the pond, using its slender body and iridescent wings to snatch a mosquito from the air."
An insect of the suborder Epiprocta or, more strictly, the infraorder Anisoptera, having four long transparent wings held perpendicular to a long body when perched.
"The dragonfly hovered over the pond before landing on a reed with its four long transparent wings held perpendicular to its slender body."
In plain English: A dragonfly is an insect with large eyes and four clear wings that flies fast near water.
"The dragonfly hovered over the pond before diving into its clear water to catch a mosquito."
Usage: Do not confuse this word with "dragon," as they are unrelated despite sharing a name. It is always spelled as one single word and never hyphenated.
The word dragonfly is a combination of the words dragon and fly. It was likely named because its large, winged appearance resembles a miniature dragon.