n.
Pronunciation: ' fl ī
Function: verb
Inflected Form: flew \ ' flü \ ; flown \ ' fl ō n \ ; fly · ing
Etymology: Middle English flien, from Old English fl ē ogan; akin to Old High German fliogan to fly and probably to Old English fl ō wan 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 : to assail suddenly and violently
– fly blind : to fly an airplane solely by instruments
– fly high : to be elated
– fly in the face of or fly in the teeth of : to stand or act forthrightly or brazenly in defiance or contradiction of