I. ˈflī verb
( flew ˈflü ; flown ˈflōn ; fly·ing )
Etymology: Middle English flien, from Old English flēogan; akin to Old High German fliogan to fly and probably to Old English flōwan to flow
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to move in or pass through the air with wings
b. : to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space
c. : to float, wave, or soar in the air
flags fly ing at half-mast
2.
a. : to take flight : flee
b. : to fade and disappear : vanish
3.
a. : to move, pass, or spread quickly
rumors were fly ing
b. : to be moved with sudden extreme emotion
flew into a rage
c. : to seem to pass quickly
the time simply flew
4. : to become expended or dissipated rapidly
5. : to operate or travel in an airplane or spacecraft
6. : to work successfully : win popular acceptance
knew…a pure human-rights approach would not fly — Charles Brydon
transitive verb
1.
a. : to cause to fly, float, or hang in the air
fly ing a kite
b. : to operate (as a balloon, aircraft, rocket, or spacecraft) in flight
c. : to journey over or through by flying
2.
a. : to flee or escape from
b. : avoid , shun
3. : to transport by aircraft or spacecraft
•
- fly at
- fly blind
- fly high
- fly in the face of
II. noun
( plural flies )
Date: before 12th century
1. : the action or process of flying : flight
2.
a. : a device consisting of two or more radial vanes capable of rotating on a spindle to act as a fan or to govern the speed of clockwork or very light machinery
b. : flywheel
3. plural : the space over a theater stage where scenery and equipment can be hung
4. : something attached by one edge: as
a. : a garment closing concealed by a fold of cloth extending over the fastener
b.
(1) : the length of an extended flag from its staff or support
(2) : the outer or loose end of a flag
5. : a baseball hit high into the air
6. : flyleaf
7. : a sheet of material (as canvas) that is attachable to a tent for use as a double top or as a rooflike extension
8. : a football pass pattern in which the receiver runs straight downfield
•
- on the fly
III. intransitive verb
( flied ; fly·ing )
Date: 1893
: to hit a fly in baseball
IV. noun
( plural flies )
Etymology: Middle English flie, from Old English flēoge; akin to Old High German flioga fly, Old English flēogan to fly
Date: before 12th century
1. : a winged insect — usually used in combination
may flies
butter fly
2.
a. : any of a large order (Diptera) of winged or rarely wingless insects (as the housefly, mosquito, or gnat) that have the anterior wings functional, the posterior wings reduced to halteres, and segmented often headless, eyeless, and legless larvae — compare maggot
b. : a large stout-bodied fly
3. : a fishhook dressed (as with feathers or tinsel) to suggest an insect
•
- fly in the ointment
V. adjective
Etymology: probably from fly (I)
Date: 1811
chiefly British : keen , artful