SINCE 1828
fly
verb (1)
\ ˈflī
\
\
flew\ ˈflü
\;
flown\ ˈflōn
\;
flying
\;
flown\ ˈflōn
\;
flying
Definition of fly
(Entry 1 of 6)
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
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
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
3
: to transport by aircraft or spacecraft
Supplies were flown to the disaster area.
fly at
fly blind
fly high
fly in the face of
or fly in the teeth of
: to assail suddenly and violently
He flew at me in a rage.
: to fly an airplane solely by instruments
: to be elated
She was flying high after winning the contest.
: to stand or act forthrightly or brazenly in defiance or contradiction of
His explanation flies in the face of the evidence.
fly
noun (1)
plural flies
Definition of fly (Entry 2 of 6)
1
: the action or process of flying : flight
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
3
flies plural
: the space over a theater stage where scenery and equipment can be hung
4
: something attached by one edge: such as
a
: a garment closing concealed by a fold of cloth extending over the fastener
b(1)
: the length of an extended flag from its staff or support
(2)
: the outer or loose end of a flag
5
: a baseball hit high into the air
6
: flyleaf
7
: a sheet of material (such as canvas) that is attachable to a tent for use as a double top or as a rooflike extension
8
: a football pass pattern in which the receiver runs straight downfield
on the fly
1
: in motion : busy
2
: while still in the air : without the ball bouncing
the home run carried 450 feet on the fly
3
: in a hurry and often without preparation : hastily, spontaneously
making decisions on the fly
4
: simultaneously with another task
software that handles formatting on the fly
fly
verb (2)
flied;
flying
Definition of fly (Entry 3 of 6)
: to hit a fly in baseball
fly
noun (2)
plural flies
Definition of fly (Entry 4 of 6)
1
: a winged insect
—usually used in combination mayfliesbutterfly
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
3
: a fishhook dressed (as with feathers or tinsel) to suggest an insect
fly in the ointment
: a detracting factor or element
fly
adjectiveFly
geographical name
\ ˈflī
\
\
Definition of Fly (Entry 6 of 6)
river 650 miles (1046 kilometers) long in southern New Guinea flowing southeast into the Gulf of Papua
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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
'Flight': A Great Way To Try New Things
'Flight': A Great Way To Try New Things
A sampler pack full of word history
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Time Traveler for fly
The first known use of fly was before the 12th century
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More Definitions for fly
fly
verb
\ ˈflī
\
\
flew\ ˈflü \;
flown\ ˈflōn \;
flying
Kids Definition of fly
(Entry 1 of 3)
1
: to move in or pass through the air with wings
Birds and airplanes fly.
2
: to move through the air or before the wind
Paper was flying in all directions.
3
: to float or cause to float, wave, or soar in the wind
fly a kite fly a flag
4
: to run away : flee
… calling out to him to fly, for God's sake, by the window …— Charles Dickens, The Cricket on the Hearth
5
: to pass or move swiftly
Time flies. Cars were flying past us.
6
: to operate or travel in an aircraft
fly a jet I'm flying home for the holidays.
7
: to become suddenly emotional
He flew into a rage.
fly
noun
plural flies
Kids Definition of fly (Entry 2 of 3)
1
: a flap of material to cover a fastening in a garment
2
: a layer of fabric that goes over the top of a tent
3
: a baseball hit very high
fly
noun
plural flies
Kids Definition of fly (Entry 3 of 3)
1
: any of a large group of mostly stout-bodied two-winged insects (as the housefly)
2
: a winged insect
Hint:
This sense of fly is usually used in combination.
- dragonfly
- firefly
3
: a fishhook made to look like an insect
fly
noun
\ ˈflī
\
\
plural flies
Medical Definition of fly
1
: a winged insect
—usually used in combination
emerging mayflies a large butterfly
2a
: any dipteran fly
— called also true fly, two-winged fly
b
: a large and stout-bodied dipteran fly (as a horsefly)
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