fly

1a : 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

2a : 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

3a : 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

1a : 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

2a : to flee or escape from The bird had flown its cage.

b : avoid, shun fly such a talkative woman

2a : a device consisting of two or more radial vanes capable of rotating on a spindle to act as a fan or to govern the speed of clockwork or very light machinery

b : flywheel

2a : any of a large order (Diptera) of winged or rarely wingless insects (such as the housefly, mosquito, or gnat) that have the anterior wings functional, the posterior wings reduced to halteres, and segmented often headless, eyeless, and legless larvae — compare maggot

b : a large stout-bodied fly