Definition of fly
flew
play
\ˈflü\;
flown
play
\ˈflōn\;
flying
intransitive verb
1 a
:to move in or pass through the air with wings
- bees flying around the hive
b
:to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space
- bullets flying in all directions
c
:to float, wave, or soar in the air
- flags flying at half-mast
2 a
:to take flight :flee
- was forced to fly for his life when his enemies came into power
b
:to fade and disappear :vanish
- mists flying before the morning sun
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
- After he became established in the town, his inheritance flew.
5
:to operate or travel in an airplane or spacecraft
- They flew to Florida for their vacation.
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 (something, such as a balloon, aircraft, rocket, or spacecraft) in flight
c
:to journey over or through by flying
- flew the Atlantic
3
:to transport by aircraft or spacecraft
- Supplies were flown to the disaster area.
—
fly at
:to assail suddenly and violently
- He flew at me in a rage.
—
fly blind
:to fly an airplane solely by instruments
—
fly high
:to be elated
- She was flying high after winning the contest.
—
fly in the face of
or
fly in the teeth of
:to stand or act forthrightly or brazenly in defiance or contradiction of
- His explanation flies in the face of the evidence.
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