Definition of fly
flew
play
\ˈflü\;
flown
play
\ˈflōn\;
flying
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
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
2 a
: to flee or escape from
- The bird had flown its cage.
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.
