Adjacent Words

Fly definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

FLY, v.i.
1. To move through air by the aid of wings, as fowls.
2. To pass or move in air, by the force of wind or other impulse; as, clouds and vapors fly before the wind. A ball flies from a cannon, an arrow from a bow.
3. To rise in air, as light substances, by means of a current of air or by having less specific gravity than air, as smoke.
Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward. Job 5.
4. To move or pass with velocity or celerity, either on land or water. He flew to the relief of his distressed friend. The ship flies upon the main.
5. To move rapidly, in any manner; as, a top flies about.
6. To pass away; to depart; with the idea of haste, swiftness or escape. The bird has flown.
7. To pass rapidly, as time. Swift fly the fleeting hours.
8. To part suddenly or with violence; to burst, as a bottle.
9. To spring by an elastic force.
10. To pass swiftly, as rumor or report.
11. To flee; to run away; to attempt to escape; to escape.
I'll fly from shepherds, flocks, and flowery plains.
12. To flutter; to vibrate or play; as a flag in the wind.
To fly at, to spring towards; to rush on; to fall on suddenly. A hen flies at a dog or cat; a dog flies at a man.
1. To fly in the face, to insult.
2. To assail; to resist; to set at defiance; to oppose with violence; to act in direct opposition.
1. To fly off, to separate or depart suddenly.
2. To revolt.
To fly open, to open suddenly or with violence; as, the doors flew open.
1. To fly out, to rush out; also, to burst into a passion.
2. To break out into license.
3. To start or issue with violence from any direction.
1. To let fly, to discharge; to throw or drive with violence; as, to let fly a shower of darts.
2. In seamanship, to let go suddenly. Let fly the sheets.
FLY, v.t. [This is used for flee, and from is understood after fly, so that it can hardly be called a transitive verb.]
1. To shun; to avoid; to decline; as, to fly the sight of one we hate. That is, primarily, to flee from
Sleep flies the wretch.
2. To quit by flight.
3. To attack by a bird of prey. [Not used.]
4. To cause to float in the air.
FLY, n.
1. In zoology, a winged insect of various species, whose distinguishing characteristic is that the wings are transparent. By this flies are distinguished from beetles, butterflies, grasshoppers, etc. Of flies, some have two wings and others four.
In common language, fly is the house fly, of the genus Musca.
2. In mechanics, a cross with leaden weights at the ends, or a heavy wheel at right angles with the axis of a windlass, jack or the like. The use of this is, to regulate and equalize the motion in all parts of the revolution of the machine.
3. That part of a vane which points and shows which way the wind blows.
4. The extent of an ensign, flag or pendant from the staff to the end that flutters loose in the wind.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: (British informal) not to be deceived or hoodwinked n
1: two-winged insects characterized by active flight
2: flap consisting of a piece of canvas that can be drawn back to provide entrance to a tent [syn: tent-fly, rainfly, fly sheet, fly, tent flap]
3: an opening in a garment that is closed by a zipper or by buttons concealed under a fold of cloth [syn: fly, fly front]
4: (baseball) a hit that flies up in the air [syn: fly, fly ball]
5: fisherman's lure consisting of a fishhook decorated to look like an insect v
1: travel through the air; be airborne; "Man cannot fly" [syn: fly, wing]
2: move quickly or suddenly; "He flew about the place"
3: operate an airplane; "The pilot flew to Cuba" [syn: fly, aviate, pilot]
4: transport by aeroplane; "We fly flowers from the Caribbean to North America"
5: cause to fly or float; "fly a kite"
6: be dispersed or disseminated; "Rumors and accusations are flying"
7: change quickly from one emotional state to another; "fly into a rage"
8: pass away rapidly; "Time flies like an arrow"; "Time fleeing beneath him" [syn: fly, fell, vanish]
9: travel in an airplane; "she is flying to Cincinnati tonight"; "Are we driving or flying?"
10: display in the air or cause to float; "fly a kite"; "All nations fly their flags in front of the U.N."
11: run away quickly; "He threw down his gun and fled" [syn: flee, fly, take flight]
12: travel over (an area of land or sea) in an aircraft; "Lindbergh was the first to fly the Atlantic"
13: hit a fly
14: decrease rapidly and disappear; "the money vanished in las Vegas"; "all my stock assets have vaporized" [syn: vanish, fly, vaporize]

Merriam Webster's

geographical name river 650 miles (1046 kilometers) S New Guinea flowing SE into Gulf of Papua

Merriam Webster's

I. verb (flew; flown; flying) Etymology: Middle English flien, from Old English fl?ogan; akin to Old High German fliogan to fly and probably to Old English fl?wan to flow Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. a. to move in or pass through the air with wings b. to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space c. to float, wave, or soar in the air <flags flying at half-mast> 2. a. to take flight ; flee b. to fade and disappear ; vanish 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 5. to operate or travel in an airplane or spacecraft 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 (as a balloon, aircraft, rocket, or spacecraft) in flight c. to journey over or through by flying 2. a. to flee or escape from b. avoid, shun 3. to transport by aircraft or spacecraft II. noun (plural flies) Date: before 12th century 1. the action or process of flying ; flight 2. a. 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. plural the space over a theater stage where scenery and equipment can be hung 4. something attached by one edge: 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 (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 III. intransitive verb (flied; flying) Date: 1893 to hit a fly in baseball IV. noun (plural flies) Etymology: Middle English flie, from Old English fl?oge; akin to Old High German flioga fly, Old English fl?ogan to fly Date: before 12th century 1. a winged insect — usually used in combination <mayflies> <butterfly> 2. a. any of a large order (Diptera) of winged or rarely wingless insects (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 V. adjective Etymology: probably from ¹fly Date: 1811 chiefly British keen, artful

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. v. & n. --v. (flies; past flew; past part. flown) 1 intr. move through the air under control, esp. with wings. 2 (of an aircraft or its occupants): a intr. travel through the air or through space. b tr. traverse (a region or distance) (flew the Channel). 3 tr. a control the flight of (esp. an aircraft). b transport in an aircraft. 4 a tr. cause to fly or remain aloft. b intr. (of a flag, hair, etc.) wave or flutter. 5 intr. pass or rise quickly through the air or over an obstacle. 6 intr. go or move quickly; pass swiftly (time flies). 7 intr. a flee. b colloq. depart hastily. 8 intr. be driven or scattered; be forced off suddenly (sent me flying; the door flew open). 9 intr. (foll. by at, upon) a hasten or spring violently. b attack or criticize fiercely. 10 tr. flee from; escape in haste. --n. (pl. -ies) 1 (usu. in pl.) a a flap on a garment, esp. trousers, to contain or cover a fastening. b this fastening. 2 a flap at the entrance of a tent. 3 (in pl.) the space over the proscenium in a theatre. 4 the act or an instance of flying. 5 (pl. usu. flys) Brit. hist. a one-horse hackney carriage. 6 a speed-regulating device in clockwork and machinery. Phrases and idioms: fly-away (of hair etc.) tending to fly out or up; streaming. fly-by (pl. -bys) a flight past a position, esp. the approach of a spacecraft to a planet for observation. fly-by-night adj. unreliable. --n. an unreliable person. fly-half Rugby Football a stand-off half. fly high 1 pursue a high ambition. 2 excel, prosper. fly in the face of openly disregard or disobey; conflict roundly with (probability, the evidence, etc.). fly into a rage (or temper etc.) become suddenly or violently angry. fly a kite 1 try something out; test public opinion. 2 raise money by an accommodation bill. fly off the handle colloq. lose one's temper suddenly and unexpectedly. fly-past a ceremonial flight of aircraft past a person or a place. fly-pitcher sl. a street-trader. fly-pitching sl. street-trading. Derivatives: flyable adj. Etymology: OE fleogan f. Gmc 2. n. (pl. flies) 1 any insect of the order Diptera with two usu. transparent wings. 2 any other winged insect, e.g. a firefly or mayfly. 3 a disease of plants or animals caused by flies. 4 a natural or artificial fly used as bait in fishing. Phrases and idioms: fly agaric a poisonous fungus Amanita Muscaria, forming bright-red mushrooms with white flecks. fly-blow flies' eggs contaminating food, esp. meat. fly-blown adj. tainted, esp. by flies. fly-fish v.intr. fish with a fly. fly in the ointment a minor irritation that spoils enjoyment. fly on the wall an unnoticed observer. fly-paper sticky treated paper for catching flies. fly-post display (posters etc.) rapidly in unauthorized places. fly-tip illegally dump (waste). fly-tipper a person who engages in fly-tipping. fly-trap any of various plants that catch flies, esp. the Venus fly-trap. like flies in large numbers (usu. of people dying in an epidemic etc.). no flies on colloq. nothing to diminish (a person's) astuteness. Etymology: OE flyge, fleoge f. WG 3. adj. Brit. sl. knowing, clever, alert. Derivatives: flyness n. Etymology: 19th c.: orig. unkn.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fly Fly, v. t. To manage (an aircraft) in flight; as, to fly an a["e]roplane.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fly Fly, n. (Cotton Manuf.) Waste cotton.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fly Fly, n.; pl. Flies (fl[imac]z). [OE. flie, flege, AS. fl[=y]ge, fle['o]ge, fr. fle['o]gan to fly; akin to D. vlieg, OHG. flioga, G. fliege, Icel. & Sw. fluga, Dan. flue. [root] 84. See Fly, v. i.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) (a) Any winged insect; esp., one with transparent wings; as, the Spanish fly; firefly; gall fly; dragon fly. (b) Any dipterous insect; as, the house fly; flesh fly; black fly. See Diptera, and Illust. in Append. 2. A hook dressed in imitation of a fly, -- used for fishing. ``The fur-wrought fly.'' --Gay.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fly Fly, v. t. 1. To cause to fly or to float in the air, as a bird, a kite, a flag, etc. The brave black flag I fly. --W. S. Gilbert. 2. To fly or flee from; to shun; to avoid. Sleep flies the wretch. --Dryden. To fly the favors of so good a king. --Shak. 3. To hunt with a hawk. [Obs.] --Bacon. To fly a kite (Com.), to raise money on commercial notes. [Cant or Slang]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fly Fly, a. Knowing; wide awake; fully understanding another's meaning. [Slang] --Dickens.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fly Fly (fl[imac]), v. i. [imp. Flew (fl[=u]); p. p. Flown (fl[=o]n); p. pr. & vb. n. Flying.] [OE. fleen, fleen, fleyen, flegen, AS. fle['o]gan; akin to D. vliegen, OHG. fliogan, G. fliegen, Icel. flj[=u]ga, Sw. flyga, Dan. flyve, Goth. us-flaugjan to cause to fly away, blow about, and perh. to L. pluma feather, E. plume. [root]84. Cf. Fledge, Flight, Flock of animals.] 1. To move in or pass thorugh the air with wings, as a bird. 2. To move through the air or before the wind; esp., to pass or be driven rapidly through the air by any impulse. 3. To float, wave, or rise in the air, as sparks or a flag. Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. --Job v. 7. 4. To move or pass swiftly; to hasten away; to circulate rapidly; as, a ship flies on the deep; a top flies around; rumor flies. Fly, envious Time, till thou run out thy race. --Milton. The dark waves murmured as the ships flew on. --Bryant. 5. To run from danger; to attempt to escape; to flee; as, an enemy or a coward flies. See Note under Flee. Fly, ere evil intercept thy flight. --Milton. Whither shall I fly to escape their hands ? --Shak. 6. To move suddenly, or with violence; to do an act suddenly or swiftly; -- usually with a qualifying word; as, a door flies open; a bomb flies apart. To fly about (Naut.), to change frequently in a short time; -- said of the wind. To fly around, to move about in haste. [Colloq.] To fly at, to spring toward; to rush on; to attack suddenly. To fly in the face of, to insult; to assail; to set at defiance; to oppose with violence; to act in direct opposition to; to resist. To fly off, to separate, or become detached suddenly; to revolt. To fly on, to attack. To fly open, to open suddenly, or with violence. To fly out. (a) To rush out. (b) To burst into a passion; to break out into license. To let fly. (a) To throw or drive with violence; to discharge. ``A man lets fly his arrow without taking any aim.'' --Addison. (b) (Naut.) To let go suddenly and entirely; as, to let fly the sheets.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(flies, flying, flew, flown) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. A fly is a small insect with two wings. There are many kinds of flies, and the most common are black in colour. N-COUNT 2. When something such as a bird, insect, or aircraft flies, it moves through the air. The planes flew through the clouds... The bird flew away. VERB: V prep/adv, V prep/adv, also V 3. If you fly somewhere, you travel there in an aircraft. He flew back to London... Mr Baker flew in from Moscow. VERB: V prep/adv, V prep/adv 4. When someone flies an aircraft, they control its movement in the air. Parker had successfully flown both aircraft... He flew a small plane to Cuba... His inspiration to fly came even before he joined the Army. VERB: V n, V n prep/adv, V • flying ...a flying instructor. 5. To fly someone or something somewhere means to take or send them there in an aircraft. The relief supplies are being flown from a warehouse in Pisa. VERB: V n adv/prep 6. If something such as your hair is flying about, it is moving about freely and loosely in the air. His long, uncovered hair flew back in the wind... She was running down the stairs, her hair flying. VERB: V adv/prep, V 7. If you fly a flag or if it is flying, you display it at the top of a pole. They flew the flag of the African National Congress... A flag was flying on the new military HQ. VERB: V n, V 8. If you say that someone or something flies in a particular direction, you are emphasizing that they move there with a lot of speed or force. I flew downstairs... VERB: V prep/adv [emphasis] 9. The front opening on a pair of trousers is referred to as the fly, or in British English the flies. It usually consists of a zip or row of buttons behind a band of cloth. N-COUNT 10. see also flying, tsetse fly 11. If you say that someone wouldn't hurt a fly or wouldn't harm a fly, you are emphasizing that they are very kind and gentle. ...a lovely girl, who would not have harmed a fly. PHRASE: with brd-neg, V inflects [emphasis] 12. If you let fly, you attack someone, either physically by hitting them, or with words by insulting them. A simmering row ended with her letting fly with a stream of obscenities. PHRASE: V inflects 13. If you send someone or something flying or if they go flying, they move through the air and fall down with a lot of force. The blow sent the young man flying. PHRASE: V inflects, PHR after v 14. If you say that you would like to be a fly on the wall in a situation that does not involve you, you mean that you would like to see or hear what happens in that situation. What I'd give to be a fly on the wall when Davis finds out what's happened to his precious cargo. PHRASE: v-link PHR see also fly-on-the-wall 15. as the crow flies: see crow to fly in the face of: see face to fly the flag: see flag to fly off the handle: see handle a fly in the ointment: see ointment pigs might fly: see pig sparks fly: see spark time flies: see time

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Heb. zebub, (Eccl. 10:1; Isa. 7:18). This fly was so grievous a pest that the Phoenicians invoked against it the aid of their god Baal-zebub (q.v.). The prophet Isaiah (7:18) alludes to some poisonous fly which was believed to be found on the confines of Egypt, and which would be called by the Lord. Poisonous flies exist in many parts of Africa, for instance, the different kinds of tsetse.

Heb. 'arob, the name given to the insects sent as a plague on the land of Egypt (Ex. 8:21-31; Ps. 78:45; 105:31). The LXX. render this by a word which means the "dog-fly," the cynomuia. The Jewish commentators regarded the Hebrew word here as connected with the word _'arab_, which means "mingled;" and they accordingly supposed the plague to consist of a mixed multitude of animals, beasts, reptiles, and insects. But there is no doubt that "the _'arab_" denotes a single definite species. Some interpreters regard it as the Blatta orientalis, the cockroach, a species of beetle. These insects "inflict very painful bites with their jaws; gnaw and destroy clothes, household furniture, leather, and articles of every kind, and either consume or render unavailable all eatables."

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(Verb; `uph petaomai, or, contracted, ptaomai):

Used in preference to "flee" when great speed is to be indicated. "To fly" is used: (1) Literally, of birds, `uph (Ge 1:20; Ps 55:6); da'ah (De 28:49), of sparks (Job 5:7); of the arrow (Ps 91:5); of the seraphim (Isa 6:2,6); of an angel (Da 9:21, ya`aph, "to be caused to fly"); of swift action or movement (Ps 18:10; Jer 48:40); of people (Isa 11:14); of a fleet (Isa 60:8; 1Sa 15:19, 14:32, `asah, "to do," etc.). (2) Figuratively, of a dream (Job 20:8); of man's transitory life (Ps 90:10); of riches (Pr 23:5); of national glory (Ho 9:11).

For "fly" the Revised Version (British and American) has "soar" (Job 39:26) "fly down" (Isa 11:14); for "flying" (Isa 31:5) the American Standard Revised Version has "hovering."

W. L. Walker

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. n. 1. Soar, mount, hover, take wing. 2. Flutter, flap, float, wave, undulate, vibrate, play. 3. Burst, explode, be scattered, break in pieces, be broken to pieces. 4. Flee, run away, decamp, abscond, make off, pack off, slip away, steal away, slink away. 5. Pass, elapse, slip, glide, flit, roll on, flow on. II. v. a. 1. Flee from, shun, avoid, flee. 2. Let fly, set flying, cause to fly or float. III. n. 1. Winged insect, dipteron. 2. House-fly, musca. 3. Fly-wheel. 4. Compass-card. 5. Hackney-coach, cab, light vehicle. 6. Stage gallery, scene-shifting gallery.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

Knowing. Acquainted with another's meaning or proceeding. The rattling cove is fly; the coachman knows what we are about.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

A waggon. Cant.

Foolish Dictionary

A familiar summer boarder who mingles with the cream of society, gets stuck on the butter and leaves his specs behind.

Moby Thesaurus

abscond, absquatulate, advance, aeroplane, airlift, airplane, applique, arachnid, arise, arthropod, ascend, aspire, bait, ball the jack, balloon, barnstorm, barrel, be airborne, be annihilated, be consumed, be destroyed, be gone, be no more, be wiped out, bear, beat a retreat, become airborne, beetle, birdlime, bola, bolt, boom, bowl along, brandish, break, breeze, breeze along, brush, bug, bunk, carry, caterpillar, cease, cease to be, cease to exist, centipede, chilopod, claw skyward, clear out, clip, coast, cobweb, conduct, continue, control, convey, copilot, cruise, cut along, cut and run, cut out, daddy longlegs, dance, dart, dash, decamp, dematerialize, depart, desert, die, die away, die out, diplopod, disappear, dispel, disperse, dissipate, dissolve, do a fade-out, dragnet, drift, drive, dwindle, elapse, elope, endure, erode, evanesce, evaporate, exit, expire, fade, fade away, fade out, ferry, fishhook, flap, flaunt, flee, fleet, flicker, flit, flitter, float, flourish, flow, flow on, flutter, fly aloft, fly low, foot, freight, fugitate, gain altitude, gill net, glide, glissade, go, go AWOL, go away, go by, go fast, go on, ground bait, hang, harvestman, hasten, hexapod, hide, highball, hightail, hook, hop, hover, hurry, hydroplane, ice-skate, imbrication, insect, jet, jig, jump, jump bail, kite, lap, lapse, lariat, larva, lasso, last, leave no trace, leave the ground, leave the scene, levant, lift, lime, lug, lure, maggot, make knots, make off, make tracks, manhandle, manipulate, melt, melt away, melt like snow, meshes, millepede, millipede, mite, mount, navigate, net, nip, noose, nymph, outstrip the wind, overlap, overlapping, overlay, overlayer, pack, pass, pass away, pass by, pass out, peel off, perish, peter out, pilot, plane, plug, poise, pound net, pour it on, press on, proceed, purse seine, retire from sight, retreat, rip, rise, roll on, roller-skate, run, run along, run away, run away from, run away with, run for it, run its course, run off, run on, run out, rush, sail, sailplane, scamper, scape, scoot, scorch, scorpion, screw, scud, seaplane, seine, shake, shoot, show the heels, sideslip, sink, sink away, sizzle, skate, skateboard, skedaddle, ski, skid, skim, skip, skip out, sled, sleigh, slide, slip, slip the cable, slither, snare, sniggle, soar, solo, speed, spider, spinner, spire, springe, squid, storm along, suffer an eclipse, sweep, swing, take, take French leave, take flight, take off, take the air, take to flight, take wing, tarantula, tear, tear along, thunder along, tick, toboggan, toils, tote, transport, trawl, turn tail, undulate, vanish, vanish from sight, volplane, waft, wag, waste, waste away, wave, wear away, whish, whisk, whiz, wield, wigwag, wing, withdraw, wobbler, zing, zip, zoom