flight

¹flight

noun, often attributive \ˈflīt\

Definition of FLIGHT

1

a : an act or instance of passing through the air by the use of wings <the flight of a bee>

b : the ability to fly <flight is natural to birds>

2

a : a passing through the air or through space outside the earth's atmosphere

b : the distance covered in such a flight

c : swift movement

3

a : a trip made by or in an airplane or spacecraft

b : a scheduled airplane trip

4

: a group of similar beings or objects flying through the air together

5

: a brilliant, imaginative, or unrestrained exercise or display <a flight of fancy>

6

a : a continuous series of stairs from one landing or floor to another

b : a series (as of terraces or conveyors) resembling a flight of stairs

7

: a unit of the United States Air Force below a squadron

— flight·less \-ləs\ adjective

Origin of FLIGHT

Middle English, from Old English flyht; akin to Middle Dutch vlucht flight, Old English flēogan to fly

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Aeronautics/Aerospace Terms

airway, apron, corridor, dirigible, fishtail, flat-hat, vector

²flight

verb

Definition of FLIGHT

transitive verb

: flush

intransitive verb

: to rise, settle, or fly in a flock <geese flighting on the marsh>

First Known Use of FLIGHT

1571

Other Birds Terms

aerie, bunting, clutch, covey, hackle, ratite, rictus, ruff, skein, zygodactyl

³flight

noun

Definition of FLIGHT

: an act or instance of running away

Origin of FLIGHT

Middle English fluht, fliht; akin to Old High German fluht flight, Old English flēon to flee

First Known Use: 13th century