to move through the air using wings.

to be carried through the air by the wind or any other force or agency

bits of paper flying about.

to float or flutter in the air

flags flying in the breeze.

to travel in an aircraft or spacecraft.

to move suddenly and quickly; start unexpectedly

He flew from the room.

to change rapidly and unexpectedly from one state or position to another

The door flew open.

to flee; escape.

to travel in space

The probe will fly past the planet.

to move or pass swiftly

How time flies!

to move with an aggressive surge

A mother fox will fly at anyone approaching her kits.

Baseball .

to bat a fly ball

He flied into right field.

to fly out.

Informal . to be acceptable, believable, or feasible

It seemed like a good idea, but it just wouldn't fly.

to make (something) float or move through the air

to fly a kite.

to operate (an aircraft, spacecraft, or the like).

to hoist aloft, as for display, signaling, etc.

to fly a flag.

to operate an aircraft or spacecraft over

to fly the Pacific.

to transport or convey by air

We fly merchandise to Boston.

to escape from; flee

to fly someone's wrath.

Theater .

to hang (scenery) above a stage by means of rigging supported by the gridiron.

to raise (scenery) from the stage or acting area into the flies.

a strip of material sewn along one edge of a garment opening for concealing buttons, zippers, or other fasteners.

a flap forming the door of a tent.

Also called tent fly. a piece of canvas extending over the ridgepole of a tent and forming an outer roof.

an act of flying; a flight.

the course of a flying object, as a ball.

Baseball . fly ball.

British . a light, covered, public carriage drawn by one horse; hansom; hackney coach.

Machinery . a horizontal arm, weighted at each end, that pivots about the screw of a press so that when the screw is lowered the momentum of the fly will increase the force of the press.

Also called fan. Horology . a regulating device for chime and striking mechanisms, consisting of an arrangement of vanes on a revolving axis.

Printing .

(in some presses) the apparatus for removing the printed sheets to the delivery table.

Also called flyboy. (formerly) a printer's devil employed to remove printed sheets from a press.

(on a flag)

the horizontal dimension of a flag as flown from a vertical staff.

the end of the flag farther from the staff. Compare hoist ( def. 7 ) .

flies. Also called fly loft. Theater . the space above the stage used chiefly for storing scenery and equipment.

Nautical . a propellerlike device streamed to rotate and transfer information on speed to a mechanical log. ?

fly out, Baseball, Softball . to be put out by hitting a fly ball that is caught by a player of the opposing team. ?

fly blind. blind ( def. 33 ) .

fly in the face of, to act in defiance of (authority, custom, etc.). Also

fly in the teeth of.

fly off the handle. handle ( def. 16 ) .

go fly a kite

Slang .

to put up with or get used to matters as they stand.

to confine oneself to one's own affairs.

to cease being a nuisance

If she gets mad enough she'll tell me to go fly a kite.

let fly

to hurl or propel (a weapon, missile, etc.).

to give free rein to an emotion

She let fly with a barrage of angry words.

on the fly

during flight; before falling to the ground

to catch a baseball on the fly.

hurriedly; without pausing

We had dinner on the fly.

verb

land , stay on ground , walk , confront , face , remain , stay

verb

aviate , barnstorm * , bend the throttle , buzz * , circle , circumnavigate , climb , control , cross , dart , dash , dive , drift , flat-hat , fleet , flit , float , flutter , glide , hop , hover , hurry , jet , jet out , jet over , maneuver , mount , operate , pilot , reach , remain aloft , rush , sail , scud * , seagull , shoot , skim , skirt , sky out , soar , speed , swoop , take a hop , take flight , take off , take wing , travel , whisk * , whiz * , whoosh , wing * , wing in , zip * , zoom * , barrel , bolt , breeze , career , elapse , flee , go like the wind , hasten , hustle , make off * , pass , race , roll , run its course , scamper , scoot , slip away * , sprint , tear , abscond , avoid , break , clear , clear out * , cut and run , decamp , disappear , get away , hasten away , hide , hightail , light out * , make a getaway , make a quick exit , make off , run * , run for it , run from , skedaddle * , skip , steal away , withdraw , flap , flitter , wing , wave , bucket , bustle , festinate , flash , haste , pelt , rocket , run , scour , trot , whirl , whisk , whiz , zip , zoom , break out , run away , flare , barnstorm , hedgehop , skirr , volitate