Main Entry:

¹fly

Pronunciation:

\ˈflī\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

flew \ˈflü\ ; flown \ˈflōn\ ; fly·ing

Etymology:

Middle English flien, from Old English flēogan; akin to Old High German fliogan to fly and probably to Old English flōwan to flow

Date:

before 12th century

intransitive verb1 a: to move in or pass through the air with wings b: to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space c: to float, wave, or soar in the air <flags flying at half-mast>2 a: to take flight : flee b: to fade and disappear : vanish3 a: to move, pass, or spread quickly <rumors were flying> b: to be moved with sudden extreme emotion <flew into a rage> c: to seem to pass quickly <the time simply flew>4: to become expended or dissipated rapidly5: to operate or travel in an airplane or spacecraft6: to work successfully : win popular acceptance <knew…a pure human-rights approach would not fly — Charles Brydon>transitive verb1 a: to cause to fly, float, or hang in the air <flying a kite> b: to operate (as a balloon, aircraft, rocket, or spacecraft) in flight c: to journey over or through by flying2 a: to flee or escape from b: avoid, shun3: to transport by aircraft or spacecraft

— fly at

: to assail suddenly and violently

— fly blind

: to fly an airplane solely by instruments

— fly high

: to be elated

— fly in the face of or fly in the teeth of

: to stand or act forthrightly or brazenly in defiance or contradiction of