KITE


Meaning of KITE in English

n. & v.

--n.

1. a toy consisting of a light framework with thin material stretched over it, flown in the wind at the end of a long string.

2 any of various soaring birds of prey esp. of the genus Milvus with long wings and usu. a forked tail.

3 Brit. sl. an aeroplane.

4 sl. a fraudulent cheque, bill, or receipt.

5 Geom. a quadrilateral figure symmetrical about one diagonal.

6 sl. a letter or note, esp. one that is illicit or surreptitious.

7 (in pl.) the highest sail of a ship, set only in a light wind.

8 archaic a dishonest person, a sharper.

--v.

1. intr. soar like a kite.

2 tr. (also absol.) originate or pass (fraudulent cheques, bills, or receipts).

3 tr. (also absol.) raise (money by dishonest means) (kite a loan).

Phrases and idioms:

kite balloon a sausage-shaped captive balloon for military observations. kite-flying fraudulent practice.

Etymology: OE cyta, of unkn. orig.

Oxford English vocab.      Оксфордский английский словарь.