—fly /flaɪ/
noun [C] (UK ALSO flies) (TROUSERS)
► F0 the opening at the front of a pair of trousers: » Hey Chris, your fly's undone!See picture: fly .jpg)
Thesaurus+: ↑Fastening clothing and textiles
noun [C] (FISHING)
► F0 a hook (= curved piece of wire) with coloured threads fastened to it, fixed to the end of a fishing line to attract fishThesaurus+: ↑Fishing , ↑Commercial fishingnoun [C] (INSECT)
► B1 a small insect with two wingsThesaurus+: ↑Insect names• • •
Extra Examples:» The lizard flicked out its tongue at a fly.» I swatted the fly with a rolled-up newspaper.» The horses swished their tails to get rid of the flies hovering around them.» The dead sheep was covered with swarms of flies.» The spider preys on small flies and other insects.noun [C] (TENT)
► F0 MAINLY US FOR FLYSHEET(Cf. ↑flysheet)Thesaurus+: ↑Campingverb (flew, flown) (TRAVEL) ↑Verb Endings for fly
A2 [I] When a bird, insect, or aircraft flies, it moves through the air:
» The poor bird couldn't fly because it had a broken wing.» As soon as it saw us, the bird flew away/off.Thesaurus+: ↑Movement through the air , ↑Aviation , ↑Travelling by aircraftThesaurus+: ↑Travelling by aircraft , ↑Aviation , ↑Movement through the airA1 [I or T] to travel by aircraft, or to go somewhere or cross something in an aircraft:
» We flew to Paris.» We fly from/out from/out of Heathrow, but fly back (in)to Gatwick.» We are flying at a height of 9,000 metres.» She has to fly thousands of miles every year for her job.» Who was the first person to fly (across) the Atlantic?Thesaurus+: ↑Movement through the air , ↑Aviation , ↑Travelling by aircraftThesaurus+: ↑Travelling by aircraft , ↑Aviation , ↑Movement through the airF0 [T] to use a particular company to travel by aircraft:
» I usually fly Lufthansa/Japan Airlines/El Al.Thesaurus+: ↑Movement through the air , ↑Aviation , ↑Travelling by aircraftThesaurus+: ↑Travelling by aircraft , ↑Aviation , ↑Movement through the airC2 [T] to transport people or goods by aircraft:
» The restaurant flies its fish in daily from Scotland.» We will be flying 100 badly wounded civilians out of the battle zone tonight.Thesaurus+: ↑Movement through the air , ↑Aviation , ↑Travelling by aircraftThesaurus+: ↑Travelling by aircraft , ↑Aviation , ↑Movement through the airB2 [I or T] to control an aircraft:
» I learned to fly when I was in Australia.Thesaurus+: ↑Aviation , ↑Travelling by aircraft , ↑Movement through the air• • •
Extra Examples:» Many kinds of birds fly south at the approach of winter.» We watched a flock of birds fly over the field.» We are currently flying at an altitude of 15,000 metres.» Concorde flew much higher than most planes.» A swarm of bees flew into the garden.verb [I or T] (flew, flown) (WAVE) ↑Verb Endings for fly
► F0 to wave or move about in the air while being fixed at one end: » The ship was flying the Spanish flag.» The flag was flying at half-mast (= brought down to a point half way down the pole) to mark the death of the president.» There isn't really enough wind to fly a kite today.Thesaurus+: ↑Shaking, swinging and vibratingverb [I] (flew, flown) (MOVE QUICKLY) ↑Verb Endings for fly
► F0 to move or go quickly: » With the explosion, glass flew across the room.» Cathy flew by/past me in the corridor.» My holiday seems to have flown (by) (= passed very quickly) this year.» The door/window suddenly flew open.» INFORMAL Anyway, I must fly (= leave quickly) - I didn't realize how late it was!Thesaurus+: ↑Moving quickly• • •
Extra Examples:» The dog fairly flew out of the door to greet him.» The side door of the pub flew open and three men burst in.» She flew past the other runners on the final lap.» A police car went flying past in the opposite direction.» She would have flown into a rage if I had told her about the incident.