kite

1 of 2

noun

1
: 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
2
: any of various usually small hawks (family Accipitridae) with long narrow wings and often a notched or forked tail
3
: a person who preys on others
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
kitelike adjective

kite

2 of 2

verb

kited; kiting

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
kiter noun

Examples of kite in a Sentence

Noun The children were flying kites. characterized the financial advisors as kites who took advantage of their customers
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Other activities centered on the water are at nearby Haulover Marina, with deep sea fishing charters, jet ski, kite and water sports rentals. Lea Lane, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024 Closer to Labor Day, the Mile High Kite Festival celebrates the area’s cooler summer temperatures and elevation with a day of kite flying and making. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2024
Verb
In kiting, athletes race on boards that fly above the water. NBC News, 23 July 2024 People fly kites during the celebrations to mark India's Independence Day in New Delhi on August 15, 2023. Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 4 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for kite 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1839, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of kite was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near kite

Cite this Entry

“Kite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kite. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

kite

noun
ˈkīt
1
: any of various usually small hawks with long narrow wings and a deeply forked tail
2
: a light covered frame for flying in the air at the end of a long string

More from Merriam-Webster on kite

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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