fly

I

[[t]flaɪ[/t]]

v. flew, for11, 19, flied, flown, fly•ing,

1) to move through the air using wings

2) to be carried through the air or through space by any force or agency

3) to float or flutter in the air:

flags flying in the breeze[/ex]

4) aer. to travel in an aircraft or spacecraft

5) aer. to operate an aircraft or spacecraft

6) to move suddenly and quickly; start unexpectedly:

He flew out of the room[/ex]

7) to change rapidly and unexpectedly from one state or position to another:

to fly into a rage; The door flew open[/ex]

8) to flee; escape

9) to move or pass swiftly:

How time flies![/ex]

10) to move with an aggressive surge

11) spo to bat a fly ball in baseball

12) cvb inf Informal. to be acceptable, believable, feasible, or successful:

It seemed like a good idea, but it just wouldn't fly[/ex]

13) to make (something) float or move through the air:

to fly a kite[/ex]

14) aer. ars to operate (an aircraft or spacecraft)

15) to hoist aloft, as for display or signaling:

to fly a flag[/ex]

16) aer. ars to operate an aircraft or spacecraft over:

to fly the Pacific[/ex]

17) aer. to transport or convey by air

18) to escape from; flee

19) sbz

a) to hang (scenery) above a stage by means of rigging

b) to raise (scenery) from the stage into the flies

20) phv fly at, to attack suddenly; lash out at

21) phv spo fly out, to make an out in baseball by hitting a fly ball that is caught by a player of the opposing team

22) clo a strip of material sewn along one edge of a garment opening to conceal a zipper, buttons, or other fasteners

23) a flap forming the door of a tent

24) a piece of fabric extending over the ridgepole of a tent and forming an outer roof

25) an act of flying; flight

26) the course of a flying object, as a ball

27) spo

fly ball

28) hor a regulating device for chime and striking mechanisms, consisting of an arrangement of vanes on a revolving axis

29)

a) the horizontal dimension of a flag as flown from a vertical staff

b) the end of the flag farther from the staff

Compare hoist 6)

30) sbz flies.

Also called fly loft the space above the stage used chiefly for storing scenery and equipment.

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- fly high fly in the face or teeth of fly off the handle let fly on the fly

Etymology: bef. 900; ME; OE flēogan fly′a•ble, adj. fly`a•bil′i•ty, n. II

fly

[[t]flaɪ[/t]] n. pl. flies

1) ent any of numerous two-winged insects of the order Diptera, esp. of the family Muscidae, as the common housefly

2) ent any of various winged insects, as the mayfly or firefly

3) spo a fishhook dressed with feathers, silk, tinsel, etc., so as to resemble an insect or small fish, for use as a lure or bait

•

- fly in the ointment fly on the wall

Etymology: bef. 950; ME flīe, OE flēoge, flȳge fly′less, adj. III

fly

[[t]flaɪ[/t]] adj. Slang.

1) brit. inf brit. clever

2) inf sts stylish; fine

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Etymology: of uncert. orig.