fly¹ (flī)

v., flew (flū), flown (flōn), fly·ing, flies (flīz).

v.intr.

1. To engage in flight, especially:
   1. To move through the air by means of wings or winglike parts.
   2. To travel by air: We flew to Dallas.
   3. To operate an aircraft or spacecraft.
2. 1. To rise in or be carried through the air by the wind: a kite flying above the playground.
   2. To float or flap in the air: pennants flying from the masthead.
3. To move or be sent through the air with great speed: bullets flying in every direction; a plate that flew from my hands when I stumbled.
4. 1. To move with great speed; rush or dart: The children flew down the hall. Rumors were flying during their absence.
   2. To flee; escape.
   3. To hasten; spring: flew to her students' defense.
5. To pass by swiftly: a vacation flying by; youth that is soon flown.
6. To be dissipated; vanish: Their small inheritance was quickly flown.
7. past tense and past participle, flied (flīd). Baseball. To hit a fly ball.
8. To undergo an explosive reaction; burst: The dropped plate flew into pieces. The motorist flew into a rage.
9. Informal. To gain acceptance or approval; go over: "However sophisticated the reasoning, this particular notion may not fly" (New York Times).

v.tr.

1. 1. To cause to fly or float in the air: fly a kite; fly a flag.
   2. Nautical. To operate under (a particular flag): a tanker that flies the Liberian flag.
2. 1. To pilot (an aircraft or a spacecraft).
   2. To carry or transport in an aircraft or a spacecraft: fly emergency supplies to a stricken area.
   3. To pass over or through in flight: flew the coastal route in record time.
   4. To perform in a spacecraft or an aircraft: flew six missions into space.
3. 1. To flee or run from: fly a place in panic.
   2. To avoid; shun: fly temptation.

n., pl., flies.

1. The act of flying; flight.
2. 1. A fold of cloth that covers a fastening of a garment, especially one on the front of trousers.
   2. The fastening or opening covered by such a fold.
3. A flap that covers an entrance or forms a rooflike extension for a tent or the canopy of a vehicle.
4. A flyleaf.
5. Baseball. A fly ball.
6. 1. The span of a flag from the staff to the outer edge.
   2. The outer edge of a flag.
7. A flywheel.
8. flies The area directly over the stage of a theater, containing overhead lights, drop curtains, and equipment for raising and lowering sets.
9. Chiefly British. A one-horse carriage, especially one for hire.

phrasal verb:

fly at

1. To attack fiercely; assault: The dogs flew at each other's throats.

idioms:

fly high

1. To be elated: They were flying high after their first child was born.

fly off the handle Informal.

1. To become suddenly enraged: flew off the handle when the train was finally canceled.

let fly

1. To shoot, hurl, or release: The troops let fly a volley of gunfire.
2. To lash out; assault: The mayor let fly with an angry attack on her critics.

on the fly

1. On the run; in a hurry: took lunch on the fly.
2. While in the air; in flight: caught the ball on the fly.

[Middle English flien, from Old English flēogan.]

flyable fly'a·ble adj.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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