Fly

English Meaning

To move in or pass through the air with wings, as a bird.

1. To engage in flight, especially:
2. To move through the air by means of wings or winglike parts.
3. To travel by air: We flew to Dallas.
4. To operate an aircraft or spacecraft.
5. To rise in or be carried through the air by the wind: a kite flying above the playground.
6. To float or flap in the air: pennants flying from the masthead.
7. 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.
8. To move with great speed; rush or dart: The children flew down the hall. Rumors were flying during their absence.
9. To flee; escape.
10. To hasten; spring: flew to her students' defense.
11. To pass by swiftly: a vacation flying by; youth that is soon flown.
12. To be dissipated; vanish: Their small inheritance was quickly flown.
13. Baseball To hit a fly ball.
14. To undergo an explosive reaction; burst: The dropped plate flew into pieces. The motorist flew into a rage.
15. Informal To gain acceptance or approval; go over: "However sophisticated the reasoning, this particular notion may not fly” ( New York Times).
16. To cause to fly or float in the air: fly a kite; fly a flag.
17. Nautical To operate under (a particular flag): a tanker that flies the Liberian flag.
18. To pilot (an aircraft or a spacecraft).
19. To carry or transport in an aircraft or a spacecraft: fly emergency supplies to a stricken area.
20. To pass over or through in flight: flew the coastal route in record time.
21. To perform in a spacecraft or an aircraft: flew six missions into space.
22. To flee or run from: fly a place in panic.
23. To avoid; shun: fly temptation.
24. The act of flying; flight.
25. A fold of cloth that covers a fastening of a garment, especially one on the front of trousers.
26. The fastening or opening covered by such a fold.
27. A flap that covers an entrance or forms a rooflike extension for a tent or the canopy of a vehicle.
28. A flyleaf.
29. Baseball A fly ball.
30. The span of a flag from the staff to the outer edge.
31. The outer edge of a flag.
32. A flywheel.
33. The area directly over the stage of a theater, containing overhead lights, drop curtains, and equipment for raising and lowering sets.
34. Chiefly British A one-horse carriage, especially one for hire.
35. fly at To attack fiercely; assault: The dogs flew at each other's throats.
36. fly high To be elated: They were flying high after their first child was born.
37. fly off the handle Informal To become suddenly enraged: flew off the handle when the train was finally canceled.
38. let fly To shoot, hurl, or release: The troops let fly a volley of gunfire.
39. let fly To lash out; assault: The mayor let fly with an angry attack on her critics.
40. on the fly On the run; in a hurry: took lunch on the fly.
41. on the fly While in the air; in flight: caught the ball on the fly.
42. Any of numerous two-winged insects of the order Diptera, especially any of the family Muscidae, which includes the housefly.
43. Any of various other flying insects, such as the caddis fly.
44. A fishing lure simulating a fly, made by attaching materials such as feathers, tinsel, and colored thread to a fishhook.
45. fly in the ointment A detrimental circumstance or detail; a drawback.
46. Chiefly British Mentally alert; sharp.
47. Slang Fashionable; stylish.