- fly
- [[t]fla͟ɪ[/t]]
♦1) N-COUNT A fly is a small insect with two wings. There are many kinds of flies, and the most common are black in colour.2) VERB When something such as a bird, insect, or aircraft flies, it moves through the air.
[V prep/adv] The planes flew through the clouds...
[V prep/adv] The bird flew away. [Also V]
3) VERB If you fly somewhere, you travel there in an aircraft.[V prep/adv] He flew to Los Angeles...
[V prep/adv] He flew back to London...
[V prep/adv] Mr Baker flew in from Moscow.
4) VERB When someone flies an aircraft, they control its movement in the air.[V n] Parker had successfully flown both aircraft...
[V n prep/adv] He flew a small plane to Cuba...
His inspiration to fly came even before he joined the Army.
Derived words:flying N-UNCOUNT...a flying instructor.
5) VERB To fly someone or something somewhere means to take or send them there in an aircraft.[V n adv/prep] It may be possible to fly the women and children out on Thursday...
[V n adv/prep] The relief supplies are being flown from a warehouse in Pisa.
6) VERB If something such as your hair is flying about, it is moving about freely and loosely in the air.[V adv/prep] His long, uncovered hair flew back in the wind...
She was running down the stairs, her hair flying.
7) V-ERG If you fly a flag or if it is flying, you display it at the top of a pole.[V n] They flew the flag of the African National Congress...
A Chinese flag was flying on the new military HQ.
8) VERB (emphasis) If you say that someone or something flies in a particular direction, you are emphasizing that they move there with a lot of speed or force.[V prep/adv] She flew to their bedsides when they were ill...
[V prep/adv] I flew downstairs...
[V prep/adv] There are bullets flying around your head.
9) VERB If you tell someone that you must fly, you are indicating that you have to leave in a great hurry.I must fly or I'll miss my plane...
I'll have to fly.
10) VERB If stories or rumours are flying around a place, they are being discussed a great deal and by a lot of people within a short period of time.[V prep/adv] Rumours had been flying around the workrooms all morning...
Rumours were flying about possible deals.
11) N-COUNT The front opening on a pair of trousers is referred to as the fly, or in British English the flies. It usually consists of a zip or row of buttons behind a band of cloth.12) N-COUNT In fishing, a fly is a model of a small winged insect that is used as a bait.13) → See also , tsetse fly14) PHRASE: with brd-neg, V inflects (emphasis) If you say that someone wouldn't hurt a fly or wouldn't harm a fly, you are emphasizing that they are very kind and gentle.Ray wouldn't hurt a fly.
...a lovely girl, who would not have harmed a fly.
15) PHRASE: V inflects If you let fly, you attack someone, either physically by hitting them, or with words by insulting them.A simmering row ended with her letting fly with a stream of obscenities.
Syn:16) PHRASE: PHR after v If you do something on the fly, you do it quickly without thinking about it or planning it in advance, especially while something else is happening. [INFORMAL]It was all pretty much done on the fly.
17) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR after v If you send someone or something flying or if they go flying, they move through the air and fall down with a lot of force.The blow sent the young man flying.
18) PHRASE: v-link PHR If you say that you would like to be a fly on the wall in a situation that does not involve you, you mean that you would like to see or hear what happens in that situation.→ See also fly-on-the-wallWhat I'd give to be a fly on the wall when Davis finds out what's happened to his precious cargo.
Phrasal Verbs:- fly at- fly into
English dictionary. 2008.
