adj · name · noun · verb · 72 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈflaɪ̯/
[ˈflaɪ̯]
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australian:/ˈflɑɪ̯/
Australian:[ˈflɑ̟ɪ̯]
Australian:/ˈflɒɪ̯/
Australian:[ˈflɒ̈ɪ̯]
/ˈflaː/Southern US, General South African, /aɪ̯/-ungliding
[ˈflaː]Southern US, General South African, /aɪ̯/-ungliding
rhymes with -aɪ
CMU ARPABET:F L AY1
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Quick-witted, alert, mentally sharp.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated, slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Clandestine, surreptitious
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Well dressed, smart in appearance; in style, cool.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang
Examples
He's pretty fly.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Beautiful; displaying physical beauty.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
name
Meaning 5
A river in Papua New Guinea
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
name
Meaning 6
A surname.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
Any insect of the order Diptera; characterized by having two wings (except for some wingless species), also called true flies.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, natural-sciences, zoology
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
Especially, any of the insects of the family Muscidae, such as the common housefly (other families of Diptera include mosquitoes and midges).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: non-technical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
Those or any similar but not closely related insect, such as a dragonfly, butterfly, or gallfly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
noun
Meaning 10
A lightweight fishing lure resembling an insect.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: fishing, hobbies, lifestyle
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
noun
Meaning 11
A chest exercise performed by moving extended arms from the sides to in front of the chest. (also flye)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports, weightlifting
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
noun
Meaning 12
The butterfly stroke (plural is normally flys).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports, swimming
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
noun
Meaning 13
A witch's familiar.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
14
noun
Meaning 14
A parasite.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
15
noun
Meaning 15
A simple dance in which the hands are shaken in the air, popular in the 1960s.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: preceded by definite article
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
16
noun
Meaning 16
A butterfly (combination of four options).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: business, finance
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
17
noun
Meaning 17
The action of flying; flight.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
18
noun
Meaning 18
An act of flying.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
There was a good wind, so I decided to give the kite a fly.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
19
noun
Meaning 19
A fly ball.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
21
noun
Meaning 21
A piece of canvas that covers the opening at the front of a tent.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
22
noun
Meaning 22
The sloping or roof part of the canvas of a tent.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: India, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
23
noun
Meaning 23
A strip of material (sometimes hiding zippers or buttons) at the front of a pair of trousers, pants, underpants, bootees, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: often, plural
Examples
Ha-ha! Your fly's undone!
February 2014 Y-Front Fly Y-Front is a registered trademark for a special front fly turned upside down to form a Y owned by Jockey® International. The first Y-Front® brief was created by Jockey® more than 70 years ago.
June 2014 The Hole In Men’s Underwear: Name And Purpose Briefs were given an opening in the front. The point of this opening (the ‘fly’) was to make it easier to pee with clothes on
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
24
noun
Meaning 24
The moving portion of an extendable ladder.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
25
noun
Meaning 25
The free edge of a flag.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
27
noun
Meaning 27
An exercise that involves wide opening and closing of the arms perpendicular to the shoulders.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports, weightlifting
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
28
noun
Meaning 28
The part of a weather vane pointing the direction from which the wind blows.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
29
noun
Meaning 29
That part of a compass on which the points are marked; the compass card.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
30
noun
Meaning 30
Two or more vanes set on a revolving axis, to act as a fanner, or to equalize or impede the motion of machinery by the resistance of the air, as in the striking part of a clock.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
31
noun
Meaning 31
Ellipsis of flywheel.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
32
noun
Meaning 32
A type of small, light, fast horse-drawn carriage that can be hired for transportation (sometimes pluralised flys).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
33
noun
Meaning 33
In a knitting machine, the piece hinged to the needle, which holds the engaged loop in position while the needle is penetrating another loop; a latch.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
34
noun
Meaning 34
The pair of arms revolving around the bobbin, in a spinning wheel or spinning frame, to twist the yarn.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
35
noun
Meaning 35
A shuttle driven through the shed by a blow or jerk.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
an opening in a garment that is closed by a zipper or by buttons concealed under a fold of cloth
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: fly front
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: opening
57
noun
Meaning 57
fisherman's lure consisting of a fishhook decorated to look like an insect
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: fisherman's lure, fish lure
Narrower terms: dry fly, streamer fly, wet fly
58
noun
Meaning 58
flap consisting of a piece of canvas that can be drawn back to provide entrance to a tent
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: tent-fly, rainfly, fly sheet, tent flap
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: flap
59
verb
Meaning 59
decrease rapidly and disappear
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the money vanished in las Vegas
all my stock assets have vaporized
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: vanish, vaporize
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: decrease, diminish, lessen, fall
60
verb
Meaning 60
change quickly from one emotional state to another
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
fly into a rage
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: change
61
verb
Meaning 61
hit a fly
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: hit
62
verb
Meaning 62
transport by aeroplane
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
We fly flowers from the Caribbean to North America
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: transport, carry
Narrower terms: airlift, lift
63
verb
Meaning 63
be dispersed or disseminated
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Rumors and accusations are flying
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: travel, go, move, locomote
64
verb
Meaning 64
travel in an airplane
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
she is flying to Cincinnati tonight
Are we driving or flying?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: travel
Narrower terms: red-eye
65
verb
Meaning 65
move quickly or suddenly
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
He flew about the place
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: move
66
verb
Meaning 66
travel over (an area of land or sea) in an aircraft
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Lindbergh was the first to fly the Atlantic
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: travel, journey
67
verb
Meaning 67
cause to fly or float
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
fly a kite
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: kite
68
verb
Meaning 68
travel through the air; be airborne
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Man cannot fly
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: wing
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: travel, go, move, locomote
Narrower terms: buzz, rack, flight, fly on, soar, hover
69
verb
Meaning 69
operate an airplane
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The pilot flew to Cuba
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: aviate, pilot
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: operate, control
Narrower terms: fly blind, fly contact, solo, test fly, jet, glide, hydroplane, seaplane, balloon, hedgehop, flat-hat, hang glide, soar
70
verb
Meaning 70
pass away rapidly
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Time flies like an arrow
Time fleeing beneath him
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: fell, vanish
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: elapse, lapse, pass, slip by, glide by, slip away, go by, slide by, go along
71
verb
Meaning 71
run away quickly
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
He threw down his gun and fled
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: flee, take flight
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: scat, run, scarper, turn tail, lam, run away, hightail it, bunk, head for the hills, take to the woods, escape, fly the coop, break away
Narrower terms: break, stampede, abscond, bolt, absquatulate, decamp, run off, go off, make off, elope, escape, get away, break loose, high-tail, defect, desert
72
verb
Meaning 72
display in the air or cause to float
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
fly a kite
All nations fly their flags in front of the U.N.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: show
History
Etymology
Uncertain; probably from the verb or noun.
The Fly was first discovered by Europeans in 1845 when Francis Blackwood, commanding the corvette HMS Fly, surveyed the western coast of the Gulf of Papua. The river was named after his ship and he proclaimed that it would be possible for a small steam-powered boat to travel up the mighty river.
From Middle English fflye, flehe, flei, fleie, fley, fleye, fleȝe, flie, fliȝe, flye, vliȝe, vlye, from Old English flēge, flēoge, flīeġe (“a fly”), from Proto-West Germanic *fleugā, from Proto-Germanic *fleugǭ (“a fly”), from Proto-Indo-European *plewk- (“to flow, fly, run; to splash”), enlargement of *plew- (“to flow, fly, run”). Cognates Cognate with Scots flee, flei (“fly”), North Frisian fleeg (“fly”), Saterland Frisian Fljooge (“fly”), Alemannic German Flüüge (“fly”), Cimbrian blòiga, vlòiga (“fly”), Dutch vlieg (“fly”), German Fliege (“fly”), Low German Fleeg (“fly”), Vilamovian fłig, fłyjǵ (“fly”), Yiddish פֿליג (flig, “fly”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål flue (“fly”), Faroese, Icelandic, and Swedish fluga (“fly”), Norwegian Nynorsk fluga, fluge, fluggu, flugu (“fly”).
From Middle English flye (“flying, flight”), from Old English flyġe (“flying, flight”), from Proto-Germanic *flugiz.
Related to German Flügel (“a wing”), Dutch vleugel (“a wing”), Swedish flygel (“a wing”).
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *plew- Proto-Indo-European *plewk- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *pléwketi Proto-Germanic *fleuganą Proto-West Germanic *fleugan Old English flēogan Middle English fliender. English fly From Middle English flei, fley, fleye, fleȝhenn, flien, fliȝe, flyen, flyyn, from Old English flēgan, flēogan, from Proto-West Germanic *fleugan, from Proto-Germanic *fleuganą (“to fly”), from Proto-Indo-European *plewk- (“to flow, fly, run; to splash”), enlargement of *plew- (“to flow, fly, run”). Compare Etymology 1. Cognates Cognate with Scots flei (“to fly”), Yola vlee (“to fly”), North Frisian fli, fliin, fliine, fliinj, flä, fläie, flö (“to fly”), Saterland Frisian fljoge, fljooge (“to fly”), West Frisian fleane (“to fly”), Central Franconian fleeje (“to fly”), Dutch vliegen (“to fly”), Low German flegen (“to fly”), German fliegen (“to fly”), Luxembourgish fléien (“to fly”), Vilamovian fłig (“to fly”), Yiddish פֿליִען (flien, “to fly”), Danish flyve (“to fly”), Faroese fljúgva, flúgva (“to fly”), Icelandic fljúga (“to fly”), Norwegian Bokmål fly, flyge, flyve (“to fly”), Norwegian Nynorsk fljuga, fly, flyga, flyge (“to fly”), Scanian flyğa (“to fly”), Swedish flyga (“to fly”); also Cornish lew (“rudder”), Old Irish luí (“rudder”), Welsh llyw (“rudder”), Latin pluit, pluō (“to rain”), Ancient Greek πλέω (pléō, “to sail; to float”), Lithuanian plaukti (“to swim; to float”), Bulgarian пля́скам (pljáskam, “to slap; to clap; to splash; to jabber; to blemish”), Czech pleskat (“to slap; to flap, lap”), Macedonian плеска (pleska, “to slap”), Russian плеска́ть (pleskátʹ, “to splash”), Serbo-Croatian пље̏скати, pljȅskati (“to applaud; to slap”), Ukrainian плеска́ти (pleskáty, “to splash”), Armenian լուանալ (luanal), լվալ (lval), լվանալ (lvanal, “to wash”), Tocharian A and Tocharian B plu- (“to fly”), Sanskrit प्लु (plu, “to float; to sail”). More at flee and flow.
Across languages
Translations
874 source translations are retained for this English entry.