kite

¹kite

noun \ˈkīt\

Definition of KITE

1

: any of various usually small hawks (family Accipitridae) with long narrow wings and often a notched or forked tail

2

: a person who preys on others

3

: a light frame covered with paper, cloth, or plastic, often provided with a stabilizing tail, and designed to be flown in the air at the end of a long string

4

: a check drawn against uncollected funds in a bank account or fraudulently raised before cashing

5

: a light sail used in a light breeze usually in addition to the regular working sails; especially : spinnaker

— kite·like adjective

Examples of KITE

1. The children were flying kites.
2. <characterized the neighborhood store owners as kites who ruthlessly gouged their inner-city customers>

Origin of KITE

Middle English, from Old English cȳta; akin to Middle High German kūze owl

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to KITE

Synonyms

bloodsucker, buzzard, harpy, predator, shark, vampire, vulture, wolf

Antonyms

prey

Related Words

exploiter, user; leech, sponge, sponger; destroyer, devourer

Rhymes with KITE

bight, bite, blight, bright, byte, cite, dight, dite, fight, flight, fright, height, hight, knight, krait, kyte, light, lite, might, mite, night, plight, quite, right, rite, sight, site, sleight, slight, smite, spite, sprite, tight, trite, white, wight, wite, wright, write

²kite

verb

kit·edkit·ing

Definition of KITE

transitive verb

1

: to use (a bad check) to get credit or money

2

: to cause to soar <kited the prices they charged wealthy clients>

intransitive verb

1

a : to go in a rapid, carefree, or flighty manner

b : to rise rapidly : soar

2

: to get money or credit by a kite

— kit·er noun

First Known Use of KITE

1839