verb | noun | verb | adjective
flyfly1 /flaɪ/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense flew /flu/, past participle flown /floʊn/) 1move through air [intransitive] a)if a vehicle such as a plane flies, it moves through the air: Fighter jets fly at incredibly high speeds.fly over something The plane was flying over the desert. b)if a bird or insect flies, it moves through the air using its wings: Flocks of seagulls flew overhead.fly away/off The butterfly flew away.2travel by airplane [intransitive] to travel by airplane: Are you going to fly or drive?fly to something We’re flying nonstop to Orlando.fly from something/fly out of something He flew out of JFK yesterday.3control an airplane [intransitive, transitive] to be the pilot of an airplane: Brenda’s learning to fly. Stan flew helicopters in Vietnam.4use air company/service [intransitive, transitive] to use a particular airline or use a particular type of ticket when flying: I flew Aeroflot out of Moscow. We usually fly coach.5send goods/people by airplane [transitive] to carry or send goods or people by airplane: fly something into/out of Food and medicine are being flown into the area.6over/across an ocean [transitive] to fly an airplane over an ocean or large area of water: Lindbergh was the first man to fly the Atlantic.7move quickly [intransitive always + adv./prep.] to suddenly move somewhere quickly: fly down/across/out of etc. Timmy flew down the stairs and out the door.fly open/shut/back etc. The door suddenly flew open.8fall/be thrown through air [intransitive] to fall or be thrown quickly and suddenly through the air: Debris was flying everywhere. The vase shattered and sent glass flying across the room. He tripped on a crack in the sidewalk and went flying.9time if time flies, it passes very quickly: Is it 5:30 already? Boy, time sure flies!fly past/by Last week just seemed to fly past.10FLAG [intransitive, transitive] if a flag flies, or if you fly it, it is fastened to a pole or a building, ship, etc.: The ship is flying the Dutch flag.11TOY [transitive] to make something such as a toy plane or kite move through the air: Kids were flying kites in the park.12hair/coat [intransitive] if your hair, coat, etc. is flying, it moves freely and loosely in the air: Her long hair was flying in the wind.13be flying high to be very successful, and often to feel very happy about it: The team is flying high after winning the Super Bowl again.14fly off the handle informal to suddenly become angry, especially about something that does not seem very important: Linda called me back and apologized for flying off the handle.15fly into a temper/rage to suddenly become extremely angry: He flew into a rage and demanded his money back.16rumors/accusations etc. fly used to say that people are talking about something a lot, saying things that may be untrue, criticizing it, etc.: Rumors are flying about a possible military takeover.17let fly informal a)to suddenly say something angrily to someone: fly with Hayes let fly with some unprintable swear words. b)to suddenly attack someone: fly with The boys let fly with a torrent of rocks.18fly in the face of something to be the opposite of what most people think is reasonable, sensible, or normal: His claim flies in the face of all the evidence.19go fly a kite spoken said when you want someone to go away because he or she is being annoying20fly a kite to make a suggestion to see what people will think of it21fly the coop informal to leave or escape from a place where you were not free: All my children have flown the coop now.22PLAN [intransitive] informal a plan that will fly is good or useful: Is their idea really going to fly?23ESCAPE [transitive] old-fashioned to leave somewhere in order to escape: They were forced to fly the country in 1939. → see also as the crow flies at crow1 (3), sparks fly at spark1 (7)fly at somebody (also fly into somebody) phrasal verb to suddenly rush toward someone because you are very angry with him or her: The old man flew at her in rage. verb | noun | verb | adjective
flyfly2 ●●● S3 W3 noun (plural flies) [countable] 1
INSECT a small flying insect with two wings, often found around garbage: The flies were swarming around the garbage cans.2PANTS the part at the front of a pair of pants that you can open: Your fly is unzipped.3on the fly while you are doing something else: Sometimes you have to make decisions on the fly.4somebody wouldn’t hurt a fly spoken used to say that someone is very gentle and is not likely to hurt anyone: Duane wouldn’t hurt a fly. I can’t imagine him fighting in a war.5drop/die like flies informal used to say that a lot of people are becoming sick, or that a lot of people are dying6a fly in the ointment informal the only thing that spoils something and prevents it from being successful7be a fly on the wall to be able to watch what happens without other people knowing that you are there: I wish I’d been a fly on the wall during that conversation.8BASEBALL a fly ball9FISHING a hook that is made to look like an insect, used for catching fish verb | noun | verb | adjective
flyfly3 verb (flied, flying) [intransitive] to hit a baseball high into the air, especially so that the ball is caught by the other team: Harper flied to left field. verb | noun | verb | adjective
flyfly4 adjective slang very fashionable, attractive, relaxed, etc. SYN cool: That Sharlene is one fly girl.