fly

Meaning

Noun

1. Any insect of the order Diptera; characterized by having two wings (except for some wingless species), also called true flies.
2. Especially, any of the insects of the family Muscidae, such as the common housefly (other families of Diptera include mosquitoes and midges).
3. Any similar but not closely related insect, such as a dragonfly, butterfly, or gallfly.
4. A lightweight fishing lure resembling an insect.
5. A chest exercise performed by moving extended arms from the sides to in front of the chest. (also flye)
6. The butterfly stroke (plural is normally flys).
7. (obsolete) A witch's familiar.
8. (obsolete) A parasite.
9. A simple dance in which the hands are shaken in the air, popular in the 1960s.
10. A butterfly (combination of four options).

Verb

1. To travel through the air, another gas, or a vacuum, without being in contact with a grounded surface.
2. To flee, to escape (from).
3. To cause to fly (travel or float in the air): to transport via air or the like.
4. To travel or proceed very fast; to hasten.
5. To move suddenly, or with violence; to do an act suddenly or swiftly.
6. To proceed with great success.
7. (colloquial) To be accepted, come about or work out.
8. To display (a flag) on a flagpole.
9. To hunt with a hawk.
10. To be in the winged adult stage.

Verb

To hit a fly ball; to hit a fly ball that is caught for an out. Compare ground (verb) and line (verb).

Adj

1. (slang) Quick-witted, alert, mentally sharp.
2. (slang) Well dressed, smart in appearance; in style, cool.
3. (slang) Beautiful; displaying physical beauty.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/flaɪ/

Etymology

table
From Middle English flye, flie, from Old English flȳġe, flēoge (“a fly”), from Proto-Germanic *fleugǭ (“a fly”), from Proto-Indo-European *plewk- (“to fly”). Cognate with Scots flee, Saterland Frisian Fljooge, Dutch vlieg, German Low German Fleeg, German Fliege, Danish flue, Norwegian Bokmål flue, Norwegian Nynorsk fluge, Swedish fluga, Icelandic fluga.

Sentences

The pleasant hours fly by much too soon .