verb (used without object),flew[floo] /flu/ or, for 11, flied[flahyd], /flaɪd/, flown[flohn], /floʊn/, fly·ing.
to move through the air using wings.
to be carried through the air by the wind or any other force or agency: bits of paper flying about.
to float or flutter in the air: flags flying in the breeze.
to travel in an aircraft or spacecraft.
to move suddenly and quickly; start unexpectedly: He flew from the room.
to change rapidly and unexpectedly from one state or position to another: The door flew open.
to flee; escape.
to travel in space: The probe will fly past the planet.
to move or pass swiftly: How time flies!
to move with an aggressive surge: A mother fox will fly at anyone approaching her kits.
Baseball.
to bat a fly ball: He flied into right field.
to fly out.
Informal. to be acceptable, believable, or feasible: It seemed like a good idea, but it just wouldn't fly.
verb (used with object),flew[floo] /flu/ or, for 19, flied[flahyd], /flaɪd/, flown[flohn], /floʊn/, fly·ing.
to make (something) float or move through the air: to fly a kite.
to operate (an aircraft, spacecraft, or the like).
to hoist aloft, as for display, signaling, etc.: to fly a flag.
to operate an aircraft or spacecraft over: to fly the Pacific.
to transport or convey by air: We fly merchandise to Boston.
to escape from; flee: to fly someone's wrath.
Theater.
to hang (scenery) above a stage by means of rigging supported by the gridiron.
to raise (scenery) from the stage or acting area into the flies.
noun,pluralflies.
a strip of material sewn along one edge of a garment opening for concealing buttons, zippers, or other fasteners.
a flap forming the door of a tent.
Also called tent fly. a piece of canvas extending over the ridgepole of a tent and forming an outer roof.
an act of flying; a flight.
the course of a flying object, as a ball.
Baseball. fly ball.
British. a light, covered, public carriage drawn by one horse; hansom; hackney coach.
Machinery. a horizontal arm, weighted at each end, that pivots about the screw of a press so that when the screw is lowered the momentum of the fly will increase the force of the press.
Also called fan. Horology. a regulating device for chime and striking mechanisms, consisting of an arrangement of vanes on a revolving axis.
Printing.
(in some presses) the apparatus for removing the printed sheets to the delivery table.
Also called flyboy. (formerly) a printer's devil employed to remove printed sheets from a press.
(on a flag)
the horizontal dimension of a flag as flown from a vertical staff.
the end of the flag farther from the staff.Compare hoist (def. 7).
flies. Also called fly loft .Theater. the space above the stage used chiefly for storing scenery and equipment.
Nautical. a propellerlike device streamed to rotate and transfer information on speed to a mechanical log.
Verb Phrases
fly out,Baseball, Softball. to be put out by hitting a fly ball that is caught by a player of the opposing team.
Idioms for fly
fly blind,
to operate an airplane, especially during conditions of poor visibility, relying solely on instruments for guidance.
to proceed with a complex task in the absence of directions by using one's own ability to determine what procedures to follow.
fly in the face of, to act in defiance of (authority, custom, etc.).Also fly in the teeth of .
fly off the handle. handle (def. 16).
go fly a kite, Slang.
to put up with or get used to matters as they stand.
to confine oneself to one's own affairs.
to cease being a nuisance: If she gets mad enough she'll tell me to go fly a kite.
let fly,
to hurl or propel (a weapon, missile, etc.).
to give free rein to an emotion: She let fly with a barrage of angry words.
on the fly,
during flight; before falling to the ground: to catch a baseball on the fly.
hurriedly; without pausing: We had dinner on the fly.
Origin of fly
1
First recorded before 900; Middle English flīen, Old English flēogan; cognate with Old High German fliogan, German fliegen, Old Norse fljuga
synonym study for fly
1. Fly,flit,flutter,hover,soar refer to moving through the air as on wings. Fly is the general term: Birds fly. Airplanes fly. To flit is to make short rapid flights from place to place: A bird flits from tree to tree. To flutter is to agitate the wings tremulously, either without flying or in flying only short distances: A young bird flutters out of a nest and in again. To hover is to linger in the air, or to move over or about something within a narrow area or space: hovering clouds; a hummingbird hovering over a blossom. To soar is to (start to) fly upward to a great height usually with little advance in any other direction, or else to (continue to) fly at a lofty height without visible movement of the wings: Above our heads an eagle was soaring.
Also called true fly . any of numerous two-winged insects of the order Diptera, especially of the family Muscidae, as the common housefly.
any of various winged insects, as the mayfly or firefly.
Angling. a fishhook dressed with hair, feathers, silk, tinsel, etc., so as to resemble an insect or small fish, for use as a lure or bait.
(initial capital letter)Astronomy. the constellation Musca.
Origin of fly
2
First recorded before 950; Middle English flīe, Old English flēoge, flȳge; cognate with Middle Dutch vliege (Dutch vlieg ), Old High German flioga (German Fliege ); akin to fly1
OTHER WORDS FROM fly
flyless,adjective
Definition for fly (3 of 3)
fly3
[ flahy ]
/ flaɪ /
adjective,fly·er,fly·est.
Slang. stylish, attractive, sophisticated, etc.: She put on silver stilettos, her flyest outfit, and plenty of bling, ready to party till dawn.
BritishSlang. aware and worldly; clever; smart: Adults generally found him sly and conniving, but his teenage followers were convinced he was fly.
BritishSlang. dexterous; agile; nimble.
Origin of fly
3
First recorded in 1805–15; perhaps special use of fly1
The notion that Republican electoral victories require massive political inequality flies in the face of all kinds of common sense.
America needs a democratic revolution|Matthew Yglesias|September 17, 2020|Vox
It also has a built-in can holder, as well as a large pocket for a phone and a small fly box.
The Gear That Lets Me Enjoy the Last Days of Summer|Graham Averill|September 15, 2020|Outside Online
Eventually, the hatched queen flies off with about half the worker bees to start a new colony.
Quacks and toots help young honeybee queens avoid deadly duels|Sharon Oosthoek|September 14, 2020|Science News For Students
Rather than figuring it out and building that plane as we fly it, we were in a position so to mold the clay that we have been getting already.
Deep Dive: How the Summer of 2020 forced brand marketing to change for the better|jim cooper|September 14, 2020|Digiday
The day the derby began, dozens of cases were confirmed, with some isolated in a school building and at least 20 others flown out of town via helicopter.
How a Swiss Ski Resort Was Ravaged by Typhoid and Survived|Daniel Malloy|September 9, 2020|Ozy
Andrew still plans to fly to Davos in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum on January 21, representing the British government.
From Playboy Prince to Dirty Old Man?|Tom Sykes|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
After some animated debate at the conference, Lelaie declared, with some frustration, “If you push on the stick, you will fly.”
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly?|Clive Irving|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Thus it attracted a wave of cowboy operators to fly passengers and cargo between cities.
Who Will Get AsiaAir 8501’s Black Boxes?|Clive Irving|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many of these are small operations that would never, in any case, fly beyond Indonesia.
Who Will Get AsiaAir 8501’s Black Boxes?|Clive Irving|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Air traffic controllers and pilots together take great care not to fly in conditions that can jeopardize an airplane.
Did Bad Weather Bring Down AirAsia 8501?|Clive Irving|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was in one of his fits of rage and remorse that Charley had asked Cherrie to fly with him.
A Changed Heart|May Agnes Fleming
He will fly back southeast along the lakeshore to the meeting place.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science January 1930|Victor Rousseau
Sam was already on the run, and, coming to the turn in the road, he let fly several snowballs.
The Rover Boys on a Tour|Arthur M. Winfield
They were to fly the American flag; that, too, should mean a subsidy.
The President|Alfred Henry Lewis
In captivity, having no web, it actually flees before its prey, and has not the resolution to confront a fly.
The Insect|Jules Michelet
British Dictionary definitions for fly (1 of 3)
fly1
/ (flaɪ) /
verbflies, flying, fleworflown
(intr)(of birds, aircraft, etc) to move through the air in a controlled manner using aerodynamic forces
to travel over (an area of land or sea) in an aircraft
to operate (an aircraft or spacecraft)
to float, flutter, or be displayed in the air or cause to float, etc, in this wayto fly a kite; they flew the flag
to transport or be transported by or through the air by aircraft, wind, etc
(intr)to move or be moved very quickly, forcibly, or suddenlyshe came flying towards me; the door flew open
(intr)to pass swiftlytime flies
to escape from (an enemy, place, etc); fleehe flew the country
(intr; may be foll by at or upon)to attack a person
(intr)to have a sudden outbursthe flew into a rage again
(intr)(of money, etc) to vanish rapidly
(tr)falconry(of hawks) to fly at (quarry) in attackperegrines fly rooks
(tr)theatreto suspend (scenery) above the stage so that it may be lowered into view
fly a kite
to procure money by an accommodation bill
to release information or take a step in order to test public opinion
fly highinformal
to have a high aim
to prosper or flourish
fly in the face of See face (def. 19)
fly off the handleinformalto lose one's temper
fly the coopUS and Canadianinformalto leave suddenly
go fly a kiteUS and Canadianinformalgo away
let flyinformal
to lose one's temper (with a person)she really let fly at him
to shoot or throw (an object)
nounpluralflies
Also called: fly front(often plural)a closure that conceals a zip, buttons, or other fastening, by having one side overlapping, as on trousers
Also called: fly sheet
a flap forming the entrance to a tent
a piece of canvas drawn over the ridgepole of a tent to form an outer roof
a small air brake used to control the chiming of large clocks
the horizontal weighted arm of a fly press
the outer edge of a flag
the distance from the outer edge of a flag to the staffCompare hoist (def. 9)
Britisha light one-horse covered carriage formerly let out on hire
Australian and NZan attemptI'll give it a fly
printing
a device for transferring printed sheets from the press to a flat pile
Also called: flyhanda person who collects and stacks printed matter from a printing press
a piece of paper folded once to make four pages, with printing only on the first page
(plural)theatrethe space above the stage out of view of the audience, used for storing scenery, etc
rarethe act of flying
Derived forms of fly
flyable, adjective
Word Origin for fly
Old English flēogan; related to Old Frisian fliāga, Old High German fliogan, Old Norse fljūga
British Dictionary definitions for fly (2 of 3)
fly2
/ (flaɪ) /
nounpluralflies
any dipterous insect, esp the housefly, characterized by active flightSee also horsefly, blowfly, tsetse fly, crane fly
any of various similar but unrelated insects, such as the caddis fly, firefly, dragonfly, and chalcid fly
anglinga lure made from a fish-hook dressed with feathers, tinsel, etc, to resemble any of various flies or nymphs: used in fly-fishingSee also dry fly, wet fly
(in southern Africa) an area that is infested with the tsetse fly
drink with the fliesAustralianslangto drink alone
fly in amber See amber (def. 2)
fly in the ointmentinformala slight flaw that detracts from value, completeness, or enjoyment
fly on the walla person who watches others, while not being noticed himself or herself
there are no flies on himinformalhe is no fool
Derived forms of fly
flyless, adjective
Word Origin for fly
Old English flēoge; related to Old Norse fluga Old High German flioga; see fly1
Any of numerous insects of the order Diptera, having one pair of wings and large compound eyes. Flies include the houseflies, horseflies, and mosquitoes. See more at dipteran.