Definition of fly

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fly¹    (fl) KEY 

VERB:
flew  (fl) KEY , flown  (fln) KEY , fly·ing, flies  (flz) KEY 
VERB:
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  (fld) KEY  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).

VERB:
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.

NOUN:
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

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

IDIOMS:
fly high

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

fly off the handle Informal

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.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English flien, from Old English flogan; see pleu- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
flya·ble(Adjective)