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 verb 1 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 : vanish
3 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 rapidly
5 : to operate or travel in an airplane or spacecraft
6 : to work successfully : win popular acceptance <knew…a pure human-rights approach would not fly — Charles Brydon>transitive verb 1 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 flying
2 a : to flee or escape from b : avoid, shun
3 : 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