fly¹ (flī)

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[Middle English flien, from Old English flēogan.]

verb: flew (flōō), flown (flōn), fly·ing, flies (flīz) 

intransitive verb 

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. 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)

transitive verb 

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. 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 verbs

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

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

let fly

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

on the fly

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

derivatives

flýa·ble

adjective

fly² (flī)

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[Middle English flie, from Old English flēoge.]

noun: pl., flies. 

1. 1. Any of numerous two-winged insects of the order Diptera, especially any of the family Muscidae, which includes the housefly.
   2. Any of various other flying insects, such as the caddis fly.
2. A fishing lure simulating a fly, made by attaching materials such as feathers, tinsel, and colored thread to a fishhook.

idioms

fly in the ointment

A detrimental circumstance or detail; a drawback.

fly³ (flī)

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[Probably from fly¹.]

adjective 

1. Chiefly British Mentally alert; sharp.
2. Slang Fashionable; stylish.